In July 2022 the World Health Organization declared the recent current monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency. Since the start of the year thousands of cases have been reported from over 80 countries. The current outbreak is unlike any previous ones. Infections are happening in non-endemic countries outside of Africa. And the pattern is of sustained person-to-person transmission. But there has also been an increase in the number of cases in countries in west and central Africa where the disease is endemic. The current outbreak monkeypox virus strain has a relatively low mortality compared to other strains. If other strains escape Africa the problem is going to be far more challenging. The Conversation Africa spoke to virologist Anna-Lise Williamson about monkeypox vaccines and best way forward for African countries.
