Africa CDC declares mpox public health emergency of continental security

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Tuesday declared the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS).

Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya, while addressing a special online media briefing on the multi-country mpox outbreak in Africa, made the declaration of PHECS, and expressed concern over the rapid spread of the disease, mainly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to its neighboring countries.

In recent weeks, health experts have also expressed concern as the new and more deadly strain of the mpox virus spread from the DRC to 15 other countries.

Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda are among countries that have reported mpox cases for the first time.

According to Africa CDC data, there have been over 17,500 cases of infections of mpox and more than 500 deaths on the continent this year.

The declaration is a call to leaders to make resources available to help fight the outbreak.

The continent's top public health body said Africa needs 10 million mpox vaccine doses but currently has access to only 200,000.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Aug. 8 that the African region is experiencing a record increase in mpox cases since the start of 2024, with more countries previously unaffected by the disease reporting cases in an expanding spread of the virus.

The WHO has since elevated the mpox outbreak response to the highest level, requiring organization-wide mobilization and scale-up.

Africa CDC declares mpox public health emergency of continental security

Africa CDC declares mpox public health emergency of continental security

Africa CDC declares mpox public health emergency of continental security

Africa CDC declares mpox public health emergency of continental security

The delegation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the Chinse People's Armed Police Force to the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, held group meetings to review the government work report on Wednesday afternoon in Beijing.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivered the government work report on behalf of the State Council at the opening meeting of the third session of the 14th NPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday morning.

Zhang Youxia, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), said that the extraordinary achievements made by the Party, the country and the military over the past year have proved that no difficulties or obstacles can stop China from advancing the historical process of national rejuvenation.

He stressed that the entire military forces must focus on achieving the centenary goal of the PLA, comprehensively enhance the military's capability to fight and win, and accelerate the advancement of the modernization of national defense and armed forces.

He Weidong, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice chairman of the CMC, said that under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, China has made new solid strides forward in advancing Chinese modernization, urging the whole military to strengthen military training and combat readiness, promote the implementation of plans, unswervingly enforce discipline while combating corruption to achieve the centenary goal of the PLA.

Military delegation to NPC annual session reviews gov't work report