Healthcare Digital September 2024 | Page 14

MONKEYPOX VIRUS GRIPS AFRICA

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MONKEYPOX VIRUS GRIPS AFRICA

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

The Democratic Republic of Congo ( DRC ) remains in the grip of an outbreak of monkeypox virus , seeing 27,000 cases since January .

Mpox is a zoonotic infection that causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions . While usually mild , it can be fatal . In DRC , there have been more than 1,100 deaths , mainly among children .
The World Health Organisation has now classified the outbreak as a ‘ public health emergency of international concern ’.
14 September 2024