The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Monday that nearly 30,000 suspected mpox cases have been reported across Africa in 2024, with the majority occurring in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The outbreak has severely strained the region’s resources, particularly in the DRC, which has exhausted its testing supplies. According to the WHO report, from January to September 15 this year, 29,342 suspected and confirmed cases were recorded across Africa, along with 812 suspected and confirmed deaths. Neighboring Burundi has also experienced a significant rise in cases.
Limited diagnostic capacity across several African countries has left many suspected cases untested, compounding the challenges faced by health authorities. WHO data shows that as of September 15, the DRC accounted for 5,399 confirmed cases, while Burundi and Nigeria reported 564 and 55 confirmed cases, respectively. Other countries, including South Africa, Uganda, Liberia, and Morocco, have also reported new cases and deaths in recent weeks, with a total of 2,046 new suspected cases and 14 deaths across nine countries.
In response to the escalating crisis, international support has been mobilized. Last week, the World Bank announced a $128.89 million contribution to assist ten African countries in their efforts to control the outbreak.
Mpox, which spreads through close contact, typically causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions, and can be fatal in rare cases. The severity of the current outbreak led the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to declare mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security on August 13, 2024. A day later, WHO classified the Clade I outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern.
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WHO reports nearly 30,000 suspected mpox cases in Africa this year
cgtn.com
