The number of reported mpox cases in Africa has exceeded 65,000 since the beginning of the year, with over 1,200 fatalities, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Africa).
As of now, the continent has documented a total of 65,711 cases of what was formerly known as monkeypox, including 14,241 confirmed cases and at least 1,237 deaths, stated CDC Africa Director-General Jean Kaseya during an online press conference on Thursday evening.
In just the past week, Africa has reported 3,545 new cases, which include 467 confirmed cases, along with 37 additional deaths, based on data from the African Union’s specialized health agency.
CDC Africa noted that countries such as Gabon, Guinea, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have moved from active transmission to a controlled stage of the outbreak.
Jean Kaseya expressed concern that the continent “continues to lose people” due to this outbreak, which has already affected 20 countries, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts to combat it.
In mid-August, CDC Africa declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of continental security. Shortly thereafter, the World Health Organization also classified it as a public health emergency of international concern, activating its highest global alert level for the second time in two years.
Mpox was first identified in laboratory monkeys in 1958. It is a rare viral disease that typically spreads through bodily fluids, respiratory droplets, and other contaminated materials. The infection generally presents with fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.
