Mpox remains a significant public health concern in Africa, with new cases continuing to rise, according to the head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Jean Kaseya, during a press conference on Thursday, highlighted the recent surge in cases, reporting 3,186 new infections in the past week alone, including 489 confirmed cases and 53 deaths. Despite a slight decrease in deaths compared to previous weeks, Kaseya emphasized the urgent need to accelerate interventions, such as vaccination, to curb the spread of the virus.
As of 2024, Africa has recorded over 38,300 mpox cases across 16 countries, resulting in 979 deaths. Ghana and Zambia have recently joined the list of countries reporting outbreaks on the continent.
In response to the escalating crisis, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, following the spread of a new variant from the Congo to neighboring countries.
Africa CDC is working diligently to address the outbreak. In Congo, the most affected country in the region, a vaccination campaign launched last weekend has already reached over 1,600 individuals, mainly in the eastern part of the country. Nigeria is also set to commence its vaccination program in the coming days, having received an allotment of 10,000 vaccine doses from the United States.
With the goal of reaching wider populations, Africa expects to receive a total of 10 million vaccine doses from its partners.
Mpox, characterized by flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions, continues to pose a significant threat to public health in Africa. As efforts to contain the outbreak intensify, timely vaccination and effective public health measures are crucial in preventing further spread and mitigating the impact of this infectious disease.