Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda are some of the east African countries that have reported cases of mpox – a viral infectious disease – in the latest outbreak which started in the Democratic Republic of Congo in January 2023. The outbreak was declared a public health emergency of international concern by Africa Centres for Disease Control and the World Health Organization in August 2024.
There is a danger of the virus spreading further afield. The most vulnerable are countries in east Africa and the Horn that are at war or have recently faced serious conflicts.
Past – or ongoing – conflicts have devastated healthcare systems. Armed conflicts affect the entire spectrum of healthcare. This includes health promotion, prevention, testing, diagnosis, linkage, treatment, and follow up.
