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Addis Ababa – The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) plans to declare the Mpox outbreak in Africa a public health emergency of continental concern (PHECS) next week. Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya announced this today at a press conference.

The background is the increasing spread of Mpox in Africa. All five African regions are now affected, as Kaseya explained. Mpox viruses have been detected in 16 countries, and a further 18 have an increased risk of the occurrence of MPox.

With the classification as PHECS, the necessary steps could be taken at the continental level to combat the outbreak in a coordinated manner and to prevent the current outbreak from becoming a pandemic. “MPox are a reality. MPox affect our countries. People are dying,” Kaseya said, underlining the need to take action.

Yesterday, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the Emergency Committee would meet shortly due to the spread of Mpox. The Emergency Committee advises the WHO Director-General on the question of whether the WHO should declare an “emergency of international concern” (PHEIC). © aks/aerzteblatt.de