The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has expressed serious concerns about the uncontrolled Mpox outbreak in Africa, with a rising number of cases reported across several countries. Dr. Jean Kaseya, the Director General of Africa CDC, disclosed this during a weekly briefing, highlighting that Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, remains a significant public health threat.
In a stark warning, Kaseya stated, “We can say today that Mpox is not under control in Africa. We still have an increase in cases, which is worrying for all of us.” He noted that within one week, there were 2,912 new cases, including Morocco’s first reported case, confirming the disease’s spread across all four regions of the continent.
As of the end of week 35 in 2024, Africa reported a total of 26,544 Mpox cases, including 5,732 confirmed cases and 724 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 2.73%. Alarmingly, there has been a 177% surge in cases and a 38.5% increase in deaths compared to the same period in 2023.
The disease, which spreads from animals to humans and between humans through close contact, is characterized by symptoms like fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes. It was renamed to reduce stigma and discrimination associated with its original name.
Kaseya highlighted that 15 of the 55 African Union member states have reported cases, with ongoing challenges in surveillance and testing systems. Countries like Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are experiencing circulation of two virus strains. Vaccination campaigns are underway in Rwanda, with the DRC planning to start vaccinations in early October.
International support includes vaccine deliveries to the DRC from the European Union and the United States, alongside pledges of additional doses from European nations and Japan. Meanwhile, Mpox cases have also been detected outside Africa in countries such as Pakistan, the Philippines, Sweden, and Thailand.
On August 14, WHO declared Mpox a global public health emergency due to the rising cases of the new Clade 1b strain. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, secured 500,000 doses of the Mpox vaccine for African nations impacted by the outbreak, and Nigeria recently received a donation of 10,000 doses of the Jynneos Mpox vaccine from the U.S. government.