The mpox outbreak in Africa remains uncontrolled, with cases continuing to rise across multiple countries, according to a warning from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Thursday.
The World Health Organisation has classified this outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern following the identification of a new variant.
The continent faces significant challenges in managing this resurgence, especially as it grapples with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed vulnerabilities in health systems.
Data from the Africa CDC reveals a staggering 177% increase in mpox cases and a 38.5% rise in deaths compared to the same period last year.
Jean Kaseya, director general of Africa CDC, expressed grave concern, stating, “Mpox is not under control in Africa. The increase in cases is alarming.” In just one week, 2,912 new cases were reported, including a new case in Morocco, marking the spread of the disease across all four regions of the continent. Currently, 15 out of 55 African Union member states have reported cases.
Kaseya also highlighted that the outbreak has resulted in fatalities, with 14 deaths recorded in the past week alone. The situation is particularly complex in countries like Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where multiple strains of the virus may be circulating, but inadequate surveillance hampers comprehensive understanding.
Vaccination efforts are underway, with Rwanda launching its campaign and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the outbreak’s epicenter, scheduled to begin vaccinations in early October.
