Global health emergency: Experts advise countries to actively curb mpox spread
The declaration comes as mpox cases surge in the DRC and in neighbouring Burundi, Kenya Rwanda and Uganda.
The backs of the hands of a patient with mpox showing a characteristic rash during his recovery phase. Picture: BSIP via AFP
JOHANNESBURG - A day after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared monkeypox (mpox) a global health emergency, experts say countries must play their part to stem outbreaks of the virus.
The declaration comes as mpox cases surge in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and in neighbouring Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.
To date - there are more than 15,000 cases globally, and over 530 deaths have been reported.
Since the first reported case, mpox was discovered in several central and West African countries - with the majority of infections in the DRC.
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On Wednesday, the WHO announced that an outbreak of the strain in the DRC had become a public health emergency.
This announcement marks the second time in three years that the health body declared an epidemic of mpox as a global emergency.
Public health lawyer Safura Abdool Karim explains what this means for South Africa.
"For South Africa, what that means is that mpox should be declared a notifiable condition in the same way that COVID was, and if any country - including South Africa - is aware of any cases, we have a duty to report it to the World Health Organization."
Karim added that while travel and trade restrictions could be implemented, such extreme restrictions should not be adopted early unless there is evidence they can help contain the spread of the virus.