Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The World Health Organization has described the Mpox outbreak in Africa as “especially concerning,” with 13,769 confirmed cases and 60 deaths across 20 countries as of December 15, mainly affecting the DRC, Burundi, and Uganda.
As of December 15, the latest WHO report says Africa has reported 13,769 confirmed Mpox cases in 20 countries and 60 deaths. Although this seems to indicate that the situation stabilized over the last few weeks, the World Health Organization said that trends downward should be viewed cautiously, with possible delays in reporting cases.
The mpox situation in Africa is deeply concerning, with thousands of cases and a high mortality rate linked to the clade 1b variant. Our hearts go out to those affected, especially in DRC, Burundi, and Uganda. Urgent global support is needed to combat this crisis. #Mpox… pic.twitter.com/rVdM3cZoSP
— Yu Dunhai (@YDunhai) December 24, 2024
The new variant, clade 1b, is probably more virulent and was identified as the cause of the recent outbreak. First detected in September 2023 in the DRC, this variant has also been reported to have spread internationally from Sweden and Thailand. WHO says that clade 1b is spreading to more places, and now eight countries outside Africa are reporting cases.
Mpox is caused by the monkeypox virus. It is transmitted via direct contact with infected persons, materials, or animals carrying the virus. There are two major types of the virus: clade 1b and clade 2b. The rapid spread of clade 1b and its persistence are a concern for the World Health Organization, mainly because of its high fatality rate of 3.6% compared to past variants.
In August, the Africa CDC proclaimed its designation of the Mpox outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Concern. Shortly, the World Health Organization made a similar announcement, categorizing the disease as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, marking the second such declaration within two years.
Update: Situation report on #Mpox https://t.co/v1FJQr18EZ
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) December 23, 2024
The epidemiological situation in Africa remains concerning, with high case counts driven by the outbreaks in the #DRCongo, #Burundi and #Uganda pic.twitter.com/WbRtCak5PM
Mpox was first identified in 1958 in monkeys kept in a laboratory. It is a rare viral disease characterized by fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes. It is transmitted via direct contact with body fluids, droplets from the nose and throat, and contaminated things.
