The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has declared a public health emergency on the African continent due to an alarming surge in mpox cases. The announcement came during a media briefing on Tuesday, ahead of a World Health Organization (WHO) meeting scheduled for Wednesday to discuss the possibility of reinstating another global public health emergency for mpox.

Dr. Jean Kaseya, the director-general of Africa CDC, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that the world cannot afford to ignore this crisis. The declaration serves as a call to action for increased global support in addressing the ongoing mpox outbreak.

According to African health officials, more than 15,000 mpox cases and 461 deaths have been reported on the continent this year, marking a 160 per cent increase from the same period last year. The disease has impacted 18 countries, with Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda recently reporting their first infections. Given limited surveillance and the potential for mild infections, epidemiologist Salim Abdool Karim noted that the actual number of cases and deaths is likely higher than reported.

At the global level, nearly 100,000 lab-confirmed mpox infections have been reported across 116 countries since the beginning of 2022. While case counts generally decreased following last year's outbreak, recent months have seen an increase in case numbers beyond Africa, including in Canada. In Toronto alone, close to 100 cases were reported by the end of July, compared to 21 during the same period last year.

Despite the ongoing crisis, international aid has been insufficient according to multiple scientists. The U.S. recently pledged an additional $10 million US in health assistance to respond to the Democratic Republic of the Congo's mpox outbreak, but African nations are still working towards securing 10 million vaccine doses in total. Canada has yet to announce any aid or vaccine donations.

Mpox researcher Jason Kindrachuk expressed concern over the slow global response, questioning whether declarations from organizations like the Africa CDC or WHO will be enough to garner international attention and support. Kindrachuk is involved in ongoing research on the spread of a new clade throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The WHO's mpox emergency committee will meet on Wednesday to discuss whether the situation in Africa constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The committee will provide their views during a closed virtual meeting, with updates being shared by the WHO as they become available.

Dr. Boghuma Titanji, an infectious diseases specialist from Emory School of Medicine, expressed concern that the DRC's form of the virus could spread globally, echoing the sudden spread of mpox two years ago. She emphasized the interconnectedness of the world, suggesting that it is only a matter of time before other countries outside the African region report their first cases.

Despite the level of international support, African nations are committed to fighting the spread of mpox. Dr. Kaseya highlighted their resilience in past battles against Ebola, HIV, and COVID-19, stating that they will emerge stronger from this challenge as well.