At the same time, scientists warned about a strain spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where it has been detected in 24 out of 26 provinces.

Monkeypox is an infectious disease caused by a virus of the same name that can cause a painful, pus-filled rash, swollen lymph nodes and fever, most people fully recover, but some become seriously ill and may even die.

According to WHO’s technical chief for Mpox, Rosamund Lewis, there is ‘a critical need to address the recent increase in cases in Africa’, including due to the number of infections detected in Congo, which has been declared a public health emergency.

During June, a large number of cases of the disease were reported and two people died in South Africa, but what is worrying is that vaccines and treatments, which are not available in Congo, were used to combat the global outbreak, he admitted.

This year, approximately 8,600 cases of smallpox and 410 deaths have been reported in that African nation, data confirmed by Cris Kacita, doctor in charge of operations in the country’s smallpox program.

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