Mpox outbreak declared global health emergency

The World Health Organisation declared yesterday that the increasing spread of mpox in Africa is a global health emergency, warning the virus might ultimately spill across international borders.

The announcement by WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus came after a meeting of the UN health agency's emergency committee. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared mpox a public health emergency on the continent on Tuesday.

WHO said there have been more than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths in Africa this year, which already exceed last year's figures. So far, more than 96 per cent of all cases and deaths are in a single country - Congo.

Mr Tedros saidthat WHO had released $1.5m in contingency funds and plans to release more in the coming days. WHO's response plan would require an initial $15m, and the agency plans to appeal to donors for funding.