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Republic of Congo declares epidemic of mpox


FILE - Vials of single doses of the Jynneos vaccine for mpox are seen from a cooler at a vaccinations site on August 29, 2022, in the Brooklyn borough of New York.
FILE - Vials of single doses of the Jynneos vaccine for mpox are seen from a cooler at a vaccinations site on August 29, 2022, in the Brooklyn borough of New York.

BRAZZAVILLE—Republic of the Congo has declared an epidemic of mpox after 19 cases were confirmed across five departments, including the capital Brazzaville.

No deaths have yet been recorded, Health Minister Gilbert Mokoki said in a statement on Tuesday. He called on the public to take precautions including avoiding close contact with suspected cases, avoiding contact with animals and avoiding handling game meat with bare hands.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has named the virus mpox to replace the older term monkeypox, citing concerns of stigma and racism associated with the name.

Mpox was first detected in humans in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970, according to the WHO. Symptoms include fever, aches and skin lesions.

In 2022, the WHO declared an outbreak that spread to Europe and North America a global health emergency.

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