Congo intends to declare a state of emergency in connection with the new pandemic (3 photos)

Africa's public health agency plans to declare a public health emergency over the MPXV pandemic as early as next week.





Compared to monkeypox virus group II (MPXV), which caused the global smallpox outbreak in 2022, MPXV group I may cause more people with severe disease and higher mortality.

Smallpox virus type 1, which can cause more severe disease, is endemic to Congo. The country has seen an increase in suspected cases in 2023-24. This raises concerns that it could spread to other countries, given the global outbreak of smallpox type 2 in 2022. Smallpox is transmitted through close contact and causes flu-like symptoms and purulent lesions. Most cases are mild, but can be fatal.



Since the beginning of the year, Congo has reported more than 13,000 suspected cases of smallpox, including 503 deaths. Africa CDC Director General Jean Caseya said Thursday that the number of reported cases in Africa has increased by 79% from 2022-23 and by 160% from 2023-24.

The dangerous MPOX monkeypox variant has become so numerous in Congo that even the CDC in Atlanta is worried. Almost a thousand people have actually died out of nearly 20,000 cases (a mortality rate of about 5 percent, which is very high). Considering that the infection is most severe in children.



Impox cases and deaths - Democratic Republic of Congo, January 1, 2023 - April 14, 2024

The CDC is worried that the virus could be brought to the United States and start circulating alongside the less dangerous smallpox group II virus, which is also still around.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that Africa has seen an unprecedented increase in cases this year.