٠٠:٠٣:٤٠Health Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Roger Kamba declared the recent mpox outbreak a 'continental-level emergency' while delivering the latest update on the emerging crisis at a press conference in Kinshasa on Monday.
"For our situation in the DRC, the figures are that we have 16,700 recorded cases. These are the latest figures. Just over 570 people died," Kamba told journalists. "It affects more and more young people, and we have many children under 15 who are affected."
Earlier, Kamba stated the disease was spreading rapidly for 'two important reasons', explaining that refugees displaced by conflict without previous exposure to the virus had moved to areas where it was already 'rampant'.
"The new people who moved from the areas because of the displacements arrived in areas where they were exposed to the disease and, therefore, were more likely to develop the disease. That's the first reason," the health minister said.
Kamba also claimed that fewer people 'born before 1980' had received vaccinations against smallpox and could be less protected.
"Today, young people are not protected by the old vaccination against human smallpox. This also explains the fact that people are not protected from being contaminated. That's pretty much the history and situation of this disease," the minister said.
"Therefore, as I said today, it affects more than 17 countries in Africa, which is why we are talking about a continental-level emergency," he continued.
World Health Organisation chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus claimed that mpox is a 'public health emergency of international concern' due to its rapid spread in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other parts of Africa. Previously, the category was used for Ebola outbreaks, Covid-19 and a 2022 mpox surge in Europe.
On Thursday, Sweden announced the first case of the more dangerous modification Clade 1 type in the country's capital. According to Sweden's Public Health Agency, this marks the first confirmed virus case outside Africa.
Mpox Clade 1 type, currently in Africa, can kill up to 10 per cent of those infected, according to reports. It causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions. Vaccines exist but are usually only available to those at risk or in close contact with cases. The less dangerous clade II type -fatal in less than one percent of cases - caused the 2022 global outbreak.
Mpox is a viral infection that is transmissible both among humans and from animals to humans. According to the WHO, the virus can spread through close physical interactions and contaminated items such as bedding, clothing, or needles.
'Continental-level emergency' - DRC health minister warns mpox spreading as refugees displaced by conflict
Health Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Roger Kamba declared the recent mpox outbreak a 'continental-level emergency' while delivering the latest update on the emerging crisis at a press conference in Kinshasa on Monday.
"For our situation in the DRC, the figures are that we have 16,700 recorded cases. These are the latest figures. Just over 570 people died," Kamba told journalists. "It affects more and more young people, and we have many children under 15 who are affected."
Earlier, Kamba stated the disease was spreading rapidly for 'two important reasons', explaining that refugees displaced by conflict without previous exposure to the virus had moved to areas where it was already 'rampant'.
"The new people who moved from the areas because of the displacements arrived in areas where they were exposed to the disease and, therefore, were more likely to develop the disease. That's the first reason," the health minister said.
Kamba also claimed that fewer people 'born before 1980' had received vaccinations against smallpox and could be less protected.
"Today, young people are not protected by the old vaccination against human smallpox. This also explains the fact that people are not protected from being contaminated. That's pretty much the history and situation of this disease," the minister said.
"Therefore, as I said today, it affects more than 17 countries in Africa, which is why we are talking about a continental-level emergency," he continued.
World Health Organisation chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus claimed that mpox is a 'public health emergency of international concern' due to its rapid spread in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other parts of Africa. Previously, the category was used for Ebola outbreaks, Covid-19 and a 2022 mpox surge in Europe.
On Thursday, Sweden announced the first case of the more dangerous modification Clade 1 type in the country's capital. According to Sweden's Public Health Agency, this marks the first confirmed virus case outside Africa.
Mpox Clade 1 type, currently in Africa, can kill up to 10 per cent of those infected, according to reports. It causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions. Vaccines exist but are usually only available to those at risk or in close contact with cases. The less dangerous clade II type -fatal in less than one percent of cases - caused the 2022 global outbreak.
Mpox is a viral infection that is transmissible both among humans and from animals to humans. According to the WHO, the virus can spread through close physical interactions and contaminated items such as bedding, clothing, or needles.
Health Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Roger Kamba declared the recent mpox outbreak a 'continental-level emergency' while delivering the latest update on the emerging crisis at a press conference in Kinshasa on Monday.
"For our situation in the DRC, the figures are that we have 16,700 recorded cases. These are the latest figures. Just over 570 people died," Kamba told journalists. "It affects more and more young people, and we have many children under 15 who are affected."
Earlier, Kamba stated the disease was spreading rapidly for 'two important reasons', explaining that refugees displaced by conflict without previous exposure to the virus had moved to areas where it was already 'rampant'.
"The new people who moved from the areas because of the displacements arrived in areas where they were exposed to the disease and, therefore, were more likely to develop the disease. That's the first reason," the health minister said.
Kamba also claimed that fewer people 'born before 1980' had received vaccinations against smallpox and could be less protected.
"Today, young people are not protected by the old vaccination against human smallpox. This also explains the fact that people are not protected from being contaminated. That's pretty much the history and situation of this disease," the minister said.
"Therefore, as I said today, it affects more than 17 countries in Africa, which is why we are talking about a continental-level emergency," he continued.
World Health Organisation chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus claimed that mpox is a 'public health emergency of international concern' due to its rapid spread in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other parts of Africa. Previously, the category was used for Ebola outbreaks, Covid-19 and a 2022 mpox surge in Europe.
On Thursday, Sweden announced the first case of the more dangerous modification Clade 1 type in the country's capital. According to Sweden's Public Health Agency, this marks the first confirmed virus case outside Africa.
Mpox Clade 1 type, currently in Africa, can kill up to 10 per cent of those infected, according to reports. It causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions. Vaccines exist but are usually only available to those at risk or in close contact with cases. The less dangerous clade II type -fatal in less than one percent of cases - caused the 2022 global outbreak.
Mpox is a viral infection that is transmissible both among humans and from animals to humans. According to the WHO, the virus can spread through close physical interactions and contaminated items such as bedding, clothing, or needles.