More than 18,700 mpox cases detected in Africa since January: Health agency

The African Union health agency reported 18,737 suspected or confirmed mpox cases in Africa this year, including 1,200 in one week. The Democratic Republic of Congo, hardest hit, saw 1,005 cases and 24 deaths recently. Across 12 African Union states, 3,101 confirmed and 15,636 suspected cases were reported, resulting in 541 deaths. WHO declared an international health emergency for the new Clade 1b strain.