The Ministry of Health has announced the escalation of preparedness at all health quarantine facilities in Egyptian airports, seaports, and land crossings after WHO\u2019s declaration of the mpox outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).<\/p>\n
In a statement on Thursday, the ministry confirmed the activation of necessary preventive measures at the country’s entry points to avert the spread of this infectious disease.<\/p>\n
A rising number of African nations have reported mpox outbreaks, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) alone accounting for 96 percent of cases as of June.<\/p>\n
According to WHO, Africa has witnessed 14,000 cases and 524 deaths from the virus this year, already surpassing last year’s figures.<\/p>\n
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus mentioned on Wednesday that mpox cases have surfaced across several African countries, including neighboring states of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn addition to other outbreaks of other clades of mpox in other parts of Africa, it\u2019s clear that\u00a0a coordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks\u00a0and save lives,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
WHO’s decision to designate the mpox outbreak as a PHEIC came a day after the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) labeled the situation a public health emergency.<\/p>\n
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