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The African Union's health watchdog said on Thursday it was “likely” to declare a public health emergency as soon as next week over the spread of polio on the continent.
“This is the first time we have done this, as the mandate was given to us in 2023,” Jean Kaseya, director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), said in an online press conference.
The decision will free up funds to fight the spread of the infection, including for the procurement of much-needed vaccines, and facilitate a coordinated continent-wide response to the virus.
“We are taking the appropriate actions, we are assessing when there is an emergency, we are taking the appropriate decisions and speaking with one voice,” Kaseya said, adding that it was “highly likely” a health emergency would be declared next week.
According to the Africa CDC, at least 16 of the continent's 55 countries are affected by MPOX.
Last week, 887 cases and five deaths were reported.
Formerly known as monkeypox, mpox is an infectious disease caused by a virus that is transmitted to humans from infected animals, but can also be transmitted from person to person through close physical contact.
The disease causes fever, muscle aches, and skin lesions that look like large boils.
Mpox was first discovered infecting humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The virus has two subtypes: the more virulent and deadly lineage I, which is found in the Congo Basin in Central Africa, and lineage II, which is found in West Africa.
In May 2022, clade IIb subclade caused a surge in MPOX infections worldwide, primarily affecting gay and bisexual men.
© 2024 AFP
Source: Africa CDC may declare mpox health emergency: Director (August 8, 2024) Retrieved August 8, 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-africa-cdc-declare-mpox-health.html
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