In a press release published on Friday, November 22, the World Health Organization (WHO) decided to maintain its highest level of alert regarding the mpox epidemic, which affects the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its neighboring countries.
According to the WHO press release, the decision to maintain high alert regarding the Mpox outbreak is explained by the increase in cases, operational challenges and the need for a coordinated response. Since the start of the year, 19 African countries have reported cases, and one case has been confirmed in Canada, linked to travel to Africa.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicenter of the epidemic, more than 40,000 cases and more than 1,000 deaths have been recorded. Faced with these alarming figures, the country is intensifying its efforts to limit the spread, particularly in the face of a new, more contagious strain. DRC is the most affected country, followed by Burundi and Nigeria.
The WHO says it continues to mobilize funds and accelerate the development of vaccines, with more than 50,000 people already vaccinated and a new campaign planned in Kinshasa next week.
