WHO declares mpox outbreaks in Africa a global health emergency

The potential for further spread beyond Africa and beyond is very worrying," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

We are now in a situation where (mpox) poses a risk to many more neighbors in and around central Africa," said Salim Abdool Karim.

It's a failure of the global community that things had to get this bad to release the resources needed," said Michael Marks.

Officials at the Africa CDC said nearly 70% of cases in Congo are in children younger than 15, who also accounted for 85% of deaths.

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