Mpox continues to pose a significant health risk across Africa, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The announcement came on Thursday amid a surge in new cases.
Jean Kaseya, the head of Africa CDC, reported 3,186 new cases over the past week, with 489 confirmed infections and 53 deaths. He shared the update during a news conference, highlighting the growing concern.
“We don’t see a decrease in terms of death, but we see an increase when compared with previous weeks,” Kaseya stated. He emphasized the need for accelerated interventions, including vaccination efforts, to curb the spread.
Data from the Africa CDC revealed that over 38,300 cases of mpox have been recorded in 2024 across 16 African countries, resulting in 979 deaths. Ghana and Zambia are the latest nations to report outbreaks of the viral infection.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years. This follows the spread of a new variant of the virus from the Congo to neighboring countries, raising further alarm.
A vaccination campaign was launched last weekend in Congo, the most affected country in the region, Kaseya confirmed. Over 1,600 individuals, primarily from the eastern regions, have already been vaccinated.
In Nigeria, preparations are underway to start vaccinations after the country received 10,000 doses from the United States. The Africa CDC expects to secure 10 million doses from its partners for further distribution across the continent.
Mpox symptoms include flu-like signs and pus-filled lesions, highlighting the urgency of the ongoing health response efforts.
