WHO Convenes Emergency Meeting on Escalating Mpox Outbreak in Africa

The virus has surged in the Democratic Republic of Congo and spread to neighboring countries, prompting global health concerns.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has reported nearly 27,000 mpox cases and over 1,100 deaths since 2023.
Mpox cases have been confirmed in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, marking their first reports of the virus.
WHO is considering declaring the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
The clade 1b variant, responsible for the current outbreak, is more transmissible and deadlier than previous strains.
Efforts to contain the virus are hampered by limited vaccine availability and resource constraints in affected regions.