An international aid organization has called for immediate provision of mpox vaccines to Africa, saying vaccines are in short supply in the continent.

The call follows Wednesday's declaration by the World Health Organization that an outbreak of mpox in Africa is a public health emergency of international concern.

The WHO noted cases of mpox, caused by a variant that is more likely to trigger severe symptoms, are resurging in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and spreading elsewhere in Africa.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, or IFRC, reported what it saw in affected areas at a news conference in Switzerland on Friday.

IFRC Senior Officer Bronwyn Nichol said the epidemic has "far surpassed" previous outbreaks, making it one of the most significant health threats Africa has faced in recent years.

She said there is a critical shortage of testing, treatment and vaccines across the continent.

Nichol said lessons have not been learned from COVID. She said most vaccine stocks are still in wealthier nations and urged those countries to send them to Africa promptly.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, or Africa CDC, said, the continent needs more than 10 million doses of mpox vaccines, but only about 200,000 doses are available.