Africa facing unprecedented rise in mpox cases

KIGALI, Rwanda

The African region is facing an unprecedented rise in mpox cases, with previously unaffected countries reporting cases as the virus spreads, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.

The WHO said in a statement that mpox outbreak has been reported in 15 African countries since the beginning of 2024, with a total of 2,030 confirmed cases and 13 deaths, compared to 1,145 cases and seven deaths last year.

Four previously unaffected countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, have registered cases since mid-July, the statement said.

“The priority is to rapidly interrupt the transmission of the virus. We’re collaborating with partners in support of countries to reinforce outbreak control measures and ensure that communities are central to ongoing efforts to effectively end these outbreaks,” said Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa.

According to the WHO, the Democratic Republic of the Congo accounts for more than 90% of reported cases, with a new variant emerging in September 2023 and circulating in the eastern region.

Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya have registered cases of the new variant, and an investigation is underway in Burundi to determine whether the reported cases are the result of the new variant.

The WHO said it is working through country teams and experts deployed on the ground to assist national authorities in strengthening key response areas, including disease surveillance, diagnosis testing and clinical care, infection prevention and control.

A person infected with mpox develops symptoms within 2 to 19 days after exposure, according to health professionals.

Common symptoms may include a rash, fever, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes.

Previously known as monkeypox, the disease spread to over 100 countries in 2022, mainly affecting gay and bisexual men.

The WHO has elevated the mpox outbreak response to the highest level, necessitating organization-wide mobilization and scaling up.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has convened an emergency committee of experts to determine whether the outbreak is a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).