DRC Faces Mpox Outbreak with 16,700 Cases, 570 Deaths; WHO Declares Global Emergency

Aug 19, 2024, 03:46 PM

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is facing a severe outbreak of mpox, also known as monkeypox, with over 16,700 reported cases and more than 570 deaths. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. A mutated strain of the virus, Clade 1B, is causing heightened concern due to its higher mortality rate. The outbreak has spread to 14 African countries and cases have been confirmed in Sweden and the Philippines. The DRC is awaiting its first shipment of mpox vaccines from the United States and Japan, expected to arrive next week. The lack of vaccines in the DRC has been a significant obstacle in controlling the outbreak.