Nearly 30,000 suspected mpox cases have been reported across Africa this year, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) hardest hit, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The DRC, where testing supplies have run out, accounts for most of these cases.
The WHO’s report also revealed that more than 800 people have died from suspected mpox infections across the continent during the same period. Neighboring Burundi is also experiencing a growing outbreak.
Mpox, a disease that spreads through close contact, typically causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. While the infection is usually mild, it can be fatal in rare cases.
Although the WHO did not provide historical data for comparison, the African Union’s public health agency reported a 78.5% surge in new cases in 2023, with 14,957 cases and 739 deaths recorded across seven African countries.
From January to mid-September 2024, there have been 29,342 suspected cases and 812 deaths in Africa. Globally, August 2024 saw 2,082 confirmed mpox cases, the highest since November 2022.
In response to the growing outbreak, the World Bank’s pandemic fund announced on Saturday that it would allocate $128.89 million to assist ten African countries in combating the disease.
