Cases of mpox are increasing in several African countries, prompting fears of a potential global outbreak as the virus crosses borders. Health leaders are considering declaring it a public health emergency. Here’s the latest information.
Mpox, formerly monkeypox, is a virus causing flu-like symptoms and a rash with fluid-filled blisters. There are two main types: clade i and clade ii, with clade i having a higher death rate.
Thirty-four African countries are at high risk or reporting mpox infections. The DRC has seen over 14,000 cases and 511 deaths in 2024 alone, with new outbreaks spreading to neighboring countries.
A new variant, clade IB, is emerging in the DRC and has spread to Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. This variant is transmitted person-to-person, often through sexual contact or contaminated items, unlike previous forms of the virus.
Other clades, including clade ia and clade ii, are also circulating in the region. The spread is exacerbated by insecurity and climate change, which increase human contact with wildlife, according to experts.
Africa CDC plans to declare mpox a 'public health emergency of continental security' next week. Who is considering if it should be a 'public health emergency of international concern.'
Mpox is spreading across borders, with cases in a Kenyan lorry driver who traveled through multiple countries. In the DRC, over 70% of cases are in children, likely due to malnutrition and lack of smallpox vaccination .
Vaccines for mpox are in short supply, with Africa CDC needing 10 million doses but only 200,000 available. Limited treatments and diagnostics are complicating the response. Who has approved two vaccines for emergency use, allowing GAVI and UNICEF to distribute them.
The 2022 mpox outbreak, which started in Europe and mainly affected men who have sex with men, led the who to declare a public health emergency. The status was lifted in May 2023 after about 90,000 cases were reported.