An emergency has been declared in Africa due to an outbreak of monkeypox

In this regard, the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has declared a continental security emergency, Reuters reported citing an official statement from the organisation.

It refers to the alarming rate of spread of the viral infection, which is transmitted through close contact and causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions.

The monkeypox outbreak began in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the virus circulates as the endemic Clade I strain. However, the situation has now been complicated by the emergence of a new strain of the virus, Clade Ib. This strain is more infectious and spreads faster through normal close contact, which is especially dangerous for children.

In most cases, the disease is mild, but it can also kill.

Today, we are declaring a public health emergency for the safety of the continent to mobilise our institutions, our collective will and our resources to act quickly and decisively," Director General Jean Kaseya said at the briefing, which was broadcast live on Zoom.

Last week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a second alert to notify clinicians and health departments of the deadly new strain.

Also last week, the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said the African Union has given it $10.4 million for emergency smallpox control measures.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has promised to convene an emergency committee to discuss whether the outbreak in Congo is a public health emergency of international concern.

According to Africa CDC, more than 15,000 cases of monkeypox infections have been reported on the African continent since the beginning of the year. 461 people have died from the disease, a 160 per cent increase on last year. This rapid increase in infections is of great concern among specialists and requires urgent measures to contain the epidemic.