Ampox, a highly infectious disease formerly called monkeypox, has been declared a public health emergency by the continent’s top health body in Africa.

Scientists at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) say they are concerned about the speed at which the new variant of ampox is spreading.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded more than 13,700 cases and 450 deaths since the start of the year.

The virus, which can cause lesions all over the body, has also spread to other African countries, including Burundi, the Central African Republic (CAR), Kenya and Rwanda.

• What is ampox and how is it spread?

Declaring a public health emergency will help governments coordinate their response and also increase the flow of medical supplies and aid to affected areas.

Health leaders outside Africa will also be monitoring the situation to assess the risk of the outbreak spreading further.

Ampox spreads from animals to humans, and between people through close contact with an infected person — including sex, skin-to-skin contact, and talking or breathing near another person.

It can cause symptoms such as fever, muscle pain and sores on the body. If left untreated, ampox can be fatal.

Two main types of the virus exist. The milder type caused a global outbreak in 2022 that affected Europe, Australia, the US and many other countries – and it was spread mainly through sexual contact.

A second, more deadly virus endemic to central Africa is even more deadly than the new variant recently discovered in D.R. Congo.

There are three types of vaccines available, but usually only people at risk or those who have come into close contact with an infected person can get them.

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