Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – September 19, 2024 – The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has issued a stark warning that the mpox outbreak in Africa remains uncontrolled, with cases and deaths continuing to rise across the continent.
The recent escalation of the mpox outbreak, now recognized as a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization, underscores the challenges facing African nations already reeling from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic had previously exposed significant weaknesses in health systems across the continent, leaving many unprepared for subsequent public health crises.
According to data from the Africa CDC, the number of mpox cases in Africa has surged by 177% compared to the same period last year, while deaths have increased by 38.5%. This alarming trend was highlighted by Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, during a weekly briefing on the outbreak.
“We can say today that mpox is not under control in Africa. We still have this increase in cases that is worrying for all of us,” Kaseya stated. The most recent data reveals that 2,912 new cases were reported in a single week, marking a significant rise compared to the previous week. Notably, a new country, Morocco, has also reported a case, indicating the disease’s spread across all four regions of the continent.
As of now, 15 of the 55 African Union member states have reported mpox cases. “We still have people dying from mpox in Africa. In one week, we lost 14 people,” Kaseya added.
In several countries, including Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), two strains of mpox are believed to be circulating. However, limited surveillance and testing capabilities have hindered efforts to confirm the extent of strain diversity in other nations.
In response to the crisis, Rwanda has initiated a vaccination campaign, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicentre of the outbreak, is preparing to commence its vaccination efforts in early October. The Africa CDC has emphasized the need for robust surveillance systems and improved public health infrastructure to effectively combat the outbreak and prevent further spread of the disease.
The ongoing crisis highlights the urgent need for enhanced international cooperation and support to strengthen Africa’s health systems and response capabilities in the face of emerging public health threats.