The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo and Uganda a global health emergency after the deadly virus spread across borders and reached African capitals. More than 80 deaths have already been reported in Congo as fears grow over the rare Bundibugyo Ebola strain, which currently has no approved vaccine or treatment. WHO officials warn the outbreak may be far larger than official numbers suggest, with possible undetected spread for weeks before discovery. Scientists are now exploring experimental treatments including remdesivir and monoclonal antibodies as Africa races to contain the fast-moving health crisis.

On August 14, 2024, the World Health Organization declared Mpox, previously known as Monkeypox, a global health emergency due to a surge in cases across Africa. The announcement came after a meeting of the UN health agency's emergency committee.  Originally identified over 50 years ago in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mpox virus has been endemic in the region for decades. Recently, a new variant of the clade 1 strain, known as clade 1b, has emerged and is spreading in eastern Congo and neighboring countries that previously had no cases. Swedish authorities reported a case of the clade 1 variant on Thursday, 15th August, marking the first detection of this strain outside Africa. Despite this, they have assessed the public risk as low. Now let us understand what Mpox virus is, the symptoms and how they spread. Watch video