The Africa CDC or centres for Disease Control has declared its first ever public health emergency over the most recent mpox outbreak that began in DR Congo last September but has since spread to other countries. Over 38,000 cases and more than 1,400 deaths have been attributed to the virus on the continent since the start of 2022. Mpox infections surged globally that year, but Africa has a tougher time responding because of a scarcity of vaccines which is particularly worrying considering that this latest strain is particularly virulent.