The World Health Organization, on 14 August, declared the disease a public health emergency of international concern. A day before, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) named mpox a public health emergency. The decisions follow a surge in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where there are 15,600 infections and 537 deaths. At least 15 African countries, including Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya, have reported cases and heightened surveillance. Outside Africa, Sweden, Pakistan, and the Philippines have reported cases of the new strain, which is spreading faster and wider. “It is a concern for us as the faith sector. We are looking to Africa CDC and the World Health Organization to provide us with a direction,” said Nkatha Njeru, chief executive officer at the Africa Christian Health Associations Platform, an organization with a membership in 30 African countries. “Overall, at our level, we continue to monitor the situation. We are talking to our countries and continue to point them to any information we get.” Mpox, formerly known as the monkeypox, is a viral disease caused by monkeypox virus and is in the same family as smallpox. Scientists discovered the disease in 1958, following an outbreak of pox-like sickness in monkeys kept for research in Denmark. In 1970, scientists found the first human case in a nine-month-old baby boy in the Democratic Republic of Congo. An earlier global outbreak occurred from 2022-2023. Mpox can be transmitted to humans through physical contact with someone who is infectious, with contaminated materials, or with infected animals. Pregnant women can also pass it on to their unborn babies. The disease has been intense in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to the tropical forest conditions, and the conflict that has displaced people into refugee camps has exacerbated the situation. “Children are especially at risk where they are living in refugee camps, overcrowded urban settlements, and where malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sanitation, and poor health services exist,” said Aline Napon, World Vision national director. She urged immediate international response, including the sharing of accurate health messaging. This is crucial in reducing misinformation and stigma, and ensuring that everyone is well-informed about the situation. “World Vision’s experience in tackling Ebola and COVID in humanitarian situations tells us there is no time to waste,” Napon said. At the same time, Njeru said, after COVID, there were deliberate efforts to ensure responses were correct. “The same thing we did with COVID, the same instructions and information WHO has given us, is that this pox is contracted through contact. We should try and take similar precautions as we took regarding contact,” she said. Church leaders who went through the COVID-19 pandemic are remembering when government guidelines advised against non-essential contact, and promoted good hygiene. Bishop Johnes Ole Meliyio of the Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church said they had not reached a situation of extra precautions such as keeping social distance and wearing masks, but churches are taking simple precautions. “Everything goes on normally for now, but we are on alert,” he said. “We are telling the people to be careful, observe cleanliness and if anyone who finds or sees signs of mpox, to report it either to churches or authorities or hospitals.” | 
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