What's happened
The World Health Organization has declared mpox a global health emergency as cases surge in the Democratic Republic of Congo and spread to other countries. Health officials warn of inadequate resources to combat the outbreak, which has already claimed over 600 lives this year.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Guardian, the WHO's director-general emphasized the urgent need for international support, stating, 'Countries with the resources and power to help stem the outbreak have been slow to offer help.' In contrast, the New York Times highlights the DRC's struggle with inadequate healthcare infrastructure, noting that 'the country has limited capacity to diagnose cases of mpox.' The Japan Times reports that the Africa CDC has only secured $20 million of the estimated $245 million needed, indicating a significant funding gap. This disparity in response efforts raises concerns about the effectiveness of global health initiatives in addressing outbreaks in low-resource settings.
How we got here
The mpox outbreak, previously known as monkeypox, has intensified in the DRC, where a new strain is spreading. The WHO's emergency declaration follows a year of declining cases, highlighting the disparity in healthcare resources between affected regions and wealthier nations.
More on these topics
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The Democratic Republic of the Congo, also known as Congo-Kinshasa, Zaire, DR Congo, DRC, the DROC, or simply the Congo, is a country located in Central Africa. It was formerly called Zaire.
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Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.3 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area and 20% of its land area.
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The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution, which establishes the agency's governing structure and principles, states its main objective as "the attainment