The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has declared Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox, a continental public health emergency in response to its rapid spread and rising death toll across the African continent.
Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, made the announcement during a special press briefing on Tuesday, emphasizing the urgent need for action to address this growing health crisis.
“This declaration is a call to action, recognizing that Africa can no longer afford to be reactive,” Kaseya stated.
He added, “We will provide treatment, protective measures, and support to those in need. This is a fight for all African states, and we will work tirelessly to mitigate the impact of this health threat.”
The decision comes as Africa faces a 160% increase in Mpox cases in 2024 compared to the previous year. As of July 28, 14,250 cases have been reported across 10 African countries, resulting in 456 deaths and a case fatality rate of 3.2%.
Salim Karim, a Clinical Infectious Disease Epidemiologist, expressed concern about the outbreak’s severity. “The number of cases has been increasing in recent weeks, showing a concerning upward trend,” Karim noted.
“Furthermore, the case fatality rate is higher than expected, ranging between 3 percent and 4 percent, and may be linked to immune deficiency due to HIV,” he added.
The Explainer gathered that the Democratic Republic of Congo has been hit hardest, reporting 13,791 cases and 450 fatalities. Nigeria has recorded 24 cases with no deaths, while other affected countries include Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Congo, Ghana, Liberia, Rwanda, and South Africa.
Experts warn that the true extent of the outbreak may be underestimated due to limited surveillance and testing capabilities in many African countries.
“The evidence we have on the number of cases and deaths is just the tip of the iceberg, we have limited capacity to do the testing that’s required, the contact tracing, and the reporting,” Karim explained.
The Africa CDC’s declaration aims to mobilize resources and coordinate efforts to combat the spread of Mpox across the continent.
Kaseya emphasized that this is not just an African issue but a global threat requiring solidarity and collective action.
