Jean Kaseya, Director of the Africa CDC, stated that the Mpox outbreak is a global issue, not just Africa’s problem.
In a press briefing, Kaseya reported on the developments related to Mpox, noting that as of August 26, there were 22,863 cases and 622 deaths in 13 African Union member countries. He emphasized that Mpox is a significant health concern both in Africa and globally.
Kaseya added that efforts to combat the outbreak are ongoing, with Central Africa being the most affected region.
Mpox virus is transmitted through contact with infected animals like rodents or from contaminated individuals. Key transmission methods include touching lesions, using contaminated clothing or bedding, and contact with body fluids.
Symptoms can appear 5 to 21 days after infection and include high fever, headaches, back and muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, chills, and rash similar to chickenpox.
There is no specific treatment for Mpox; antiviral medications are used, and most cases are mild, with recovery occurring within a few weeks.
In 2022, the WHO renamed “monkeypox” to “mpox” to address concerns about racism and discrimination.