The head of the Africa Public Health Agency announced on Thursday that the number of deaths from monkeypox on the continent has exceeded 1,000, warning of the ongoing threat posed by cross-border contamination and a lack of rapid testing tools.
Fifty deaths related to the virus were recorded last week, bringing the total to 1,100, indicating the challenges in containing the outbreak that currently affects 18 out of 55 countries.
It is worth noting that monkeypox is part of the same virus family that causes smallpox, but it produces milder symptoms such as fever, chills, and body aches. Severe cases may develop into sores on the face and genitalia.