Africa: CDC Calls for the Declaration of a Public Health Emergency Following the Outbreak of Mpox
Microscopy view of the patogen of Mpox, Aug 2024 Photo: @livenowfox
August 9, 2024 Hour: 9:05 pm
According to data provided by Kaseya, between 2023 and 2024 there has been an increase of 160% of cases,
African Union (AU) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Africa (CDC of Africa) called for the declaration of a “state of public health emergency of continental importance” following the outbreak of mpox (formerly known as monkey smallpox) in the region.
Related:
WHO: Consider Convening an Emergency Committee to Assess Outbreaks of Mpox
“It’s a CDC Africa claim to declare it. We need to take a number of steps to understand the magnitude of the problem and the appropriate measures that must be taken to prevent this situation from becoming another pandemic,” warned CDC Africa’s Director-General, Jean Kaseya, at a telematics press conference.
The director of the AU-affiliated agency stressed the importance of “mobilizing the international community to know what is happening in Africa,” although the World Health Organization (WHO) is the agency responsible for implementing the declaration.
According to data provided by Kaseya, between 2023 and 2024 there has been an increase of 160% of cases, that is, this year there will be “more than twice as many as there were in 2023 and even more”.
“This is one of the aspects that we are concerned about (…). In addition to the fact that 70% of the people affected are under 18 years old. We are losing youth in Africa,” he said.
To address this, the leader said that “at least 10 million vaccines” are needed, a figure far from the 200,000 available so far.
“Mpox is a reality, it’s affecting our countries. People are dying. We need to address that”, he exclaimed, and said: “We learned from covid-19 and do not want to repeat the same mistake”.
Therefore, he reiterated, is meeting with political leaders and the international community to “obtain the blessing and guidance to declare a state of emergency”.
Autor: OSG
Fuente: EFE-AP
