Mpox cases across Africa have spiked by more than 500% since last year, according to data released Thursday by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the spread of mpox a public health emergency of international concern in August, signaling the need for urgent attention.
“We are still not in control of the situation, and overall, cases are on the rise,” said Ngashi Ngongo from the Africa CDC.
This year, 19 African countries have reported over 48,000 suspected mpox cases, including 1,048 deaths. Central Africa, the hardest-hit region, accounts for 85.7% of cases and 99.5% of deaths on the continent.
Mpox is a contagious disease spread through close contact, including sexual activity. Symptoms include rashes, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, muscle aches, back pain, headaches, and respiratory symptoms. Fatalities from mpox are rare in countries with advanced healthcare systems. A new variant, known as Clade Ib, has also been reported in the UK, Sweden, and Germany.
Ngongo called for continued political commitment and financial support to combat mpox. “We don’t want mpox, particularly the Ib strain, to escalate into a pandemic more severe than COVID-19,” he said.
According to WHO, the Ib variant is more contagious and dangerous than previous mpox variants. Smallpox vaccines, which are effective against mpox, help reduce the risk of infection and lessen disease severity.
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