The Republic of the Congo has officially declared an epidemic of mpox after confirming 19 cases spread across five departments, including the capital city of Brazzaville.
As of Tuesday, no fatalities have been reported, stated Health Minister Gilbert Mokoki in a released statement.
Mokoki urged the public to exercise caution, advising against close contact with suspected cases, avoiding contact with animals, and refraining from handling game meat without protective gear.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has opted to use the term “mpox” instead of “monkeypox” to describe the virus, citing concerns over associated stigma and racism.
First identified in humans in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970, mpox presents symptoms such as fever, body aches, and skin lesions.
In 2022, the WHO declared an outbreak of mpox, which later spread to Europe and North America, as a global health emergency.
