Mpox Outbreak in Africa: A Growing Concern
The African continent is still in the acute phase of the mpox outbreak, with a significant surge in cases reported this year, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has warned.
Rising Cases and Deaths
According to the Africa CDC, 19 African countries have reported 50,840 mpox cases, with 10,741 confirmed and 1,083 deaths since the start of this year. In the past week alone, the continent reported 2,532 new cases, including 345 confirmed cases and 32 new deaths.
Regional Breakdown
Data from the African Union’s specialized healthcare agency shows that the number of confirmed mpox cases in Africa has surged by over 545% this year compared to the total of last year. The Central Africa region is the most affected by the outbreak, accounting for 85.8% of all reported cases and 99.4% of deaths.
Key Hotspots
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Burundi, the two worst hit countries by the outbreak, accounted for 86.7% of all new confirmed cases reported during the past week. Uganda has also seen a recent increase in mpox cases, with a weekly increase in confirmed cases.
Countries at Risk
Fourteen African countries have active transmission of the mpox virus, while four countries (Cameroon, Gabon, Guinea, and South Africa) have not reported any confirmed cases in the past six weeks. However, these countries remain at risk due to cross-border transmission.
Impact of Comorbidity
The Africa CDC Director-General, Jean Kaseya, expressed concern over the impact of comorbidity, which is playing a key role in the outbreak. He emphasized that mpox mortality is closely associated with HIV, especially in cases where HIV is poorly managed and recently diagnosed.
Conclusion
The mpox outbreak in Africa is a growing concern, and it is essential to take immediate action to control its spread. The Africa CDC and other health organizations are working tirelessly to contain the outbreak, but more needs to be done to mitigate its impact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is mpox?
A: Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is a rare viral disease typically spread through body fluids, respiratory droplets, and other contaminated materials.
Q: How many cases have been reported in Africa?
A: As of this year, 50,840 mpox cases have been reported in 19 African countries.
Q: How many deaths have been reported?
A: As of this year, 1,083 deaths have been reported in 19 African countries.
Q: Which regions are most affected by the outbreak?
A: The Central Africa region is the most affected by the outbreak, accounting for 85.8% of all reported cases and 99.4% of deaths.