African health experts meet in Uganda over cross-border mpox response

KAMPALA, Uganda | Xinhua | Experts from African countries that have reported mpox outbreaks, along with regional health organizations, started a meeting in Kampala, the Ugandan capital, Monday to assess the cross-border response to the spread of the viral disease.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Uganda posted on X platform that experts from 10 African countries, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and the WHO Regional Office for Africa discussed cross-border collaboration to contain the spread of the disease.

They will identify critical gaps, improve information sharing and promote regional cooperation to combat the virus, the health body said.

The 10 African countries include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan.

“Cross-border collaboration ensures prompt detection and response to disease outbreaks, standardized surveillance protocols, improved information sharing, and promotes regional and global cooperation,” said Charles Njuguna, the acting WHO representative to Uganda.

The death toll from Africa’s ongoing mpox outbreak has surpassed 1,100, with 42,438 cases reported in 18 countries, including 8,113 confirmed cases, since the beginning of 2024, according to Africa CDC.

In August, the WHO declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern, raising the alarm about its potential for further international transmission.

Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus, spread through close contact. Symptoms include fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, muscle aches, skin rash and back pain.■