KEY POINTS
- Mpox cases in Africa have surged by 177 percent, and deaths increased by 38.5 percent compared to last year.
- Fifteen African Union member states have reported mpox cases, with Morocco being the latest country affected.
- The Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicenter of the outbreak, is set to begin vaccinations in October.
The ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa remains uncontrolled, with cases continuing to rise in several countries, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
During a briefing on Thursday, Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, raised concerns over the increasing spread of the virus across the continent.
The World Health Organization (WHO) had earlier declared the recent mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern following the identification of a new variant. African nations are struggling to manage this new health crisis in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed deep vulnerabilities in many countries’ health systems.
Surge in cases and deaths
Data from the Africa CDC shows a 177 percent rise in mpox cases compared to the same period last year, with deaths increasing by 38.5 percent. In the past week alone, 2,912 new cases were reported, including the first case in Morocco, marking the disease’s spread to all four regions of the continent.
“We can say today that mpox is not under control in Africa,” Kaseya stated. He noted the continued increase in cases, adding that this trend is concerning for health authorities across the region.
Fifteen out of the 55 African Union member states have reported cases, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Cameroon seeing two strains of the virus circulating. According to Reuters, Kaseya explained that due to limited surveillance and testing capabilities, it remains unclear if other countries are experiencing similar challenges.
Rising death toll
The mpox outbreak continues to claim lives, with 14 deaths reported in the past week alone. In response, some countries are initiating vaccination campaigns to curb the virus. Rwanda has begun vaccinating its population, and the DRC, which has become the epicenter of the outbreak, plans to start its vaccination program in early October.
The lack of robust surveillance and testing systems in several countries poses a significant obstacle to controlling the spread of mpox. Kaseya urged for strengthened health measures to tackle the outbreak and mitigate further deaths.
The ongoing mpox outbreak has heightened the strain on public health systems across Africa, many of which are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. With the virus spreading across multiple regions and fatalities on the rise, Africa CDC’s warning highlights the urgent need for a coordinated response and enhanced health surveillance to prevent further escalation of the crisis.
