Beijing, China - August 13, 2024

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Tuesday declared the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS).

Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya, while addressing a special online media briefing on the multi-country mpox outbreak in Africa, made the declaration of PHECS, and expressed concern over the rapid spread of the disease, mainly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to its neighboring countries.

In recent weeks, health experts have also expressed concern as the new and more deadly strain of the mpox virus spread from the DRC to 15 other countries.

Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda are among countries that have reported mpox cases for the first time.

According to Africa CDC data, there have been over 17,500 cases of infections of mpox and more than 500 deaths on the continent this year.

The declaration is a call to leaders to make resources available to help fight the outbreak.

The continent's top public health body said Africa needs 10 million mpox vaccine doses but currently has access to only 200,000.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Aug. 8 that the African region is experiencing a record increase in mpox cases since the start of 2024, with more countries previously unaffected by the disease reporting cases in an expanding spread of the virus.

The WHO has since elevated the mpox outbreak response to the highest level, requiring organization-wide mobilization and scale-up.

Shotlist:
Beijing, China - Aug 13, 2024:
1. Building of Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) headquarters;
2. People in front of building, flags;
3. Sign of Africa CDC;
Beijing, China - Aug 13, 2024
4. Graphics showing data of Africa mpox outbreak;
FILE: Jos, Nigeria - Sept 22, 2022
5. Various of medical workers, patients in hospital;
6. Various of medical worker analyzing sample in lab using equipment;
7. Various of patients waiting;
FILE: Kigali, Rwanda - April 6, 2022
8. Various of residents washing hands at outdoor sink;
FILE: Kigali, Rwanda - 2023
9. Various of residents, doctors at hospital;
FILE: Nairobi, Kenya - 2024
10. Various of sign, building exterior of medical center, traffic;
11. Pedestrians.

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