Mpox cases on African continent show 500% increase year-on-year
By Reuters |
Nineteen African countries have seen more than 48,000 suspected mpox cases including 1,048 deaths so far this year, according to the public health agency's data.
Mpox cases continue to spread on the African continent, showing an increase of over 500% from last year, data from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) showed on Thursday.
The World Health Organisation declared mpox a global health emergency in mid-August, after a new strain began spreading from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighbouring countries.
Keep reading
- Rwanda declared Marburg-free after successful containment of deadly virus
- Malaria deaths in Kenya drop by 93 per cent over eight years, WHO says
- Governments failing to prioritise health forcing patients to bear the burden - report
- Congo to get Japan's mpox vaccine for children from next week, Africa CDC says
"The situation is not yet under control, we are still on the upward trend generally," Ngashi Ngongo from Africa CDC told a briefing.
Nineteen African countries have seen more than 48,000 suspected mpox cases including 1,048 deaths so far this year, according to the public health agency's data.
Central Africa, which is the most hit by the outbreak, accounts for 85.7% of cases and 99.5% of deaths on the continent.
The virus can be transmitted through close physical contact, including sexual contact.
Its new strain, known as clade Ib, is also spreading to Europe and was detected in Sweden, in Germany and in Britain.
"We need to continue mobilising the political engagement and also mobilising the financial support that is critical to get the current outbreak under control," Ngongo said.
"We do not want this mpox, especially the clade 1b, to become another sexually transmitted pandemic, which would be much more severe than COVID-19."
Reader comments
Follow Us and Stay Connected!
We'd love for you to join our community and stay updated with our latest stories and updates. Follow us on our social media channels and be part of the conversation!
Let's stay connected and keep the dialogue going!
Latest News For You
Undiagnosed disease in Congo puts children, malnourished at risk, WHO says
