Africa is grappling with a renewed mpox crisis as Kenya and the Central African Republic declared new outbreaks this week. The announcement comes amid a broader regional struggle to contain the disease, exacerbated by a critical shortage of vaccines.
Kenya identified its first case on Wednesday in a traveler crossing the border from Uganda to Rwanda. The Central African Republic, which reported the earlier outbreak on Monday, is battling the disease in its capital, Bangui. Mpox, a viral illness originating in animals, has the potential to spread rapidly among humans.
“We are deeply concerned about the increasing number of monkeypox cases in our country,” stated Pierre Somsé, the Central African Republic’s public health minister. The disease has been endemic in parts of central and west Africa for decades, but a global outbreak in 2022 brought it to worldwide attention.
While the West managed to contain the mpox epidemic through vaccines and treatments, much of Africa lacks these resources. Congo, the continent’s epicenter, has recorded over 12,000 cases and hundreds of deaths this year. South Africa has also seen a resurgence after previously declaring the disease contained.
The East African Community is sounding the alarm, urging member states to implement preventive measures in response to the outbreak in neighboring Congo. Burundi has already confirmed three cases. As the situation evolves, health officials across the region are working tirelessly to curb the spread of mpox and protect vulnerable populations.