A deadly Mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has claimed 548 lives since the beginning of the year, affecting all 26 provinces of the country, according to a statement released by the DRC’s health minister on Thursday.
The outbreak has particularly devastated the provinces of South Kivu, North Kivu, Tshopo, Equateur, North Ubangi, Tshuapa, Mongala, and Sankuru.
In response to the escalating situation, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Mpox surge in Africa a global public health emergency on Wednesday, expressing concern over the rising number of cases in the DRC and the virus’s spread to neighboring countries.
The WHO’s announcement came just one day after the African Union’s health agency issued its own public health emergency declaration regarding the outbreak.
The DRC, a nation of around 100 million people, is facing a severe public health crisis as it battles the rapidly spreading virus.
