The African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared measles a public health emergency

A public health emergency was declared by the health authority of the African Union on Tuesday due to an outbreak of mpox that has been increasing in prevalence since July.

The head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Jean Kaseya, urged for the implementation of aggressive measures to address the pandemic during an online briefing on Tuesday.

Since January 2022, there have been 38,465 cases of mpox and 1,456 fatalities in Africa, according to CDC data as of August 4.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is among the African countries that have been affected by the outbreak. Cases have been confirmed in nearly all countries in eastern and central Africa.

Mpox is contracted through intimate contact. It induces pus-filled incisions, flu-like symptoms, and dermatitis. Despite the fact that the majority of cases are modest, fatalities have been confirmed.

The World Health Organization announced on Tuesday that its emergency committee will convene on Wednesday to address the declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).