The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared a health emergency due to the increasing spread of mpox across the continent. The World Health Organization is also considering a similar emergency declaration as cases continue to rise. Mpox, also known as monkeypox, was first identified in 1958 and primarily affected individuals in central and west Africa who had close contact with infected animals.
This year, there have been over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths, with the majority occurring in Congo. Scientists are concerned about a new, potentially more easily transmissible strain of the virus in the region.
