The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has seen a sharp increase in deaths from Mpox infections. As Health Minister Samuel-Roger Gamba announced today, 548 victims have died since the beginning of the year. Authorities have registered a total of 15,664 suspected cases.

Almost two weeks ago, the African Union Health Authority (Africa CDC) recorded 455 deaths and 14,479 infections in 25 of the 26 Congolese provinces. All provinces of the central African country are now affected by Mpox outbreaks.

WHO: A global emergency

The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday declared a high level of alert due to the spread of the Mpox virus in Africa: a “health emergency of international concern” like the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The African Union had already declared a “continental health emergency” earlier in the day.

Experts are particularly concerned about the virus variant 1b, which is currently circulating in the Congo and some other African countries. Common symptoms of infection with the 1b variant are skin rashes all over the body. Fever is also one of the common symptoms.