New mpox virus: Why is it spreading so quickly? | DW News

The World Health Organization has declared a global public health emergency, following an outbreak of a new strain of the mpox virus in the continent of Africa.

The virus - formerly known as monkeypox - can be passed on through close contact and causes flu-like symptoms and lesions on the body and can be deadly.

It's now been detected in at least 13 African countries, but one country has been hit particularly hard - the Democratic republic of Congo.