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8mo ago

WHO Declares Mpox Outbreak in Africa a Global Health Emergency

The new clade 1b variant prompts urgent international response as cases and deaths surge in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Photo of the Department of Health and Human Services with an inset of the mpox virus. The department have responded to the WHO's recent declaration that the outbreak is a public health emergency of international concern.
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micrograph of mpox virus particles
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Overview

  • The WHO's declaration aims to accelerate access to testing, vaccines, and treatments in affected areas.
  • More than 17,000 cases and 517 deaths have been reported in over 13 countries this year.
  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo has seen the highest impact with over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths.
  • The US has committed $17 million and 50,000 vaccine doses to support the response in Central and Eastern Africa.
  • Experts compare the outbreak's early stages to the HIV crisis, urging global solidarity and swift action.