Africa leads global monkeypox research

Monkeypox was first discovered in humans in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970, and is now endemic in more than ten countries in Africa. Scientists in the region have spent years studying the disease, so this week on Africa Science Focus we spoke to the continent’s top monkeypox researchers to find out what the world can learn from Africa.      

The current outbreaks of monkeypox in countries with no history of the virus can be contained, according to Fiona Braka, who leads the World Health Organization’s emergency operations for Africa. And, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control monkeypox expert group member Adesola Yinka-Ogunleye debunks some of the misinformation circulating on social media.

This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.

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