KAMPALA, Uganda | Health experts from various African nations experiencing mpox outbreaks gathered in Uganda’s capital on Monday to evaluate cross-border strategies for managing the viral disease.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Uganda announced via X platform that representatives from 10 African countries, alongside officials from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the WHO Regional Office for Africa, convened to discuss collaborative efforts aimed at controlling the spread of mpox.
During the meeting, participants will pinpoint critical gaps in current responses, enhance information sharing, and foster regional cooperation to combat the virus.
The countries represented include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, and South Sudan.
“Cross-border collaboration is essential for the timely detection and response to disease outbreaks, establishing standardized surveillance protocols, and enhancing regional and global cooperation,” stated Charles Njuguna, the acting WHO representative to Uganda.
The ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa has resulted in over 1,100 deaths, with 42,438 cases reported across 18 countries, including 8,113 confirmed cases since the start of 2024, according to the Africa CDC.
In August, the WHO classified mpox as a public health emergency of international concern, underscoring the risk of further international transmission.
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus, primarily transmitted through close contact. Symptoms include fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, muscle aches, skin rash, and back pain.
