The World Health Organization has declared the increasing spread of mpox in Africa a global health emergency, warning the virus might ultimately spill across international borders
Thousands of cases of the disease – formerly known as monkeypox – and hundreds of deaths have already been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) this year.
So far, more than 96% of all cases and deaths are in a single country - Congo.
Mpox, previously called monkeypox, rose to recognition during the global outbreak in 2022, affecting the U.S., Europe, Australia and many other countries.