African countries have reported a concerning rise in mpox-related deaths, with more than 100 fatalities recorded in the past week alone. The Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention highlighted this alarming trend, emphasizing the need for urgent action to curb the spread of the disease.
Dr. Jean Kaseya, the director-general of the Africa CDC, expressed deep concern over the 107 new deaths and 3,160 new cases reported in the past week. He stressed that the escalating toll was unacceptable and called for enhanced cross-border surveillance measures to contain the outbreak.
Mpox, a virus similar to smallpox, manifests with symptoms such as fever, chills, and body aches. Severe cases can result in the development of lesions on various parts of the body, including the face, hands, chest, and genitals.
Recent testing revealed that men had the highest positivity rate at 63%, while children under 15 years old tested positive at a rate of 41%. Dr. Kaseya underscored the importance of ramping up testing efforts and allocating resources to support comprehensive testing across the continent.
One concerning aspect highlighted by Dr. Kaseya was the potential transmission of mpox from mother to child during pregnancy. Further research is needed to ascertain the prevalence of this mode of transmission.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, noted a rapid increase in mpox cases across Africa, prompting the declaration of a global emergency in 12 African countries. The Africa CDC and WHO have jointly proposed a six-month response plan with a budget of nearly $600 million, primarily aimed at addressing the outbreak in 14 affected nations and enhancing preparedness in 15 others.
Efforts to secure vaccines are underway, with 250,000 doses already delivered to Congo. However, this quantity falls short of the 3 million doses required to contain the outbreak in the country, which serves as the epicenter of the global health emergency. European Union countries have pledged to donate over 500,000 doses, although the timeline for delivery remains uncertain.
Despite the pressing need for vaccinations, the recommended course involves two doses to ensure optimal protection. Dr. Kaseya emphasized the importance of maintaining this standard to safeguard the population effectively.
Dr. Kaseya announced his intention to receive the vaccine in Congo when the vaccination campaign commences in early October, aiming to demonstrate its safety and efficacy to the African and Congolese populations.
Since the beginning of the year, Africa CDC has documented 5,731 confirmed cases of mpox and 724 associated deaths, underscoring the severity of the ongoing outbreak.
