Ethiopian Informer
ADDIS ABABA: The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has reported that the continent has seen more than 65,000 mpox cases this year, with fatalities exceeding 1,200.
In a virtual press conference held on Thursday, Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya revealed that since the beginning of the year, there have been a total of 65,711 mpox cases recorded across Africa, including 14,241 confirmed instances and over 1,237 deaths.
Recent statistics from the African Union’s health agency indicate that last week alone saw an increase of 3,545 new cases, of which 467 were confirmed, alongside 37 additional deaths.
The Africa CDC highlighted a staggering rise in confirmed mpox cases this year, with an increase of over 755 percent compared to the previous year’s figures. Notably, six countries—Gabon, Guinea, South Africa, Morocco, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—have transitioned from active transmission to a controlled status.
Despite these developments, Kaseya underscored the ongoing threat posed by the mpox outbreak, which continues to impact 20 countries across the continent. He emphasized the need for unified efforts to combat the spread of the disease.
The director-general noted that current mpox transmission is primarily driven by two variants of the virus: clade Ib and clade Ia, with clade Ib showing a significant increase in cases since July.
In mid-August, the Africa CDC declared the mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security. This was soon followed by the World Health Organization’s designation of mpox as a public health emergency of international concern, marking a heightened global alert for the second time in two years.
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, was first identified in laboratory monkeys in 1958. It is a rare viral infection typically transmitted through bodily fluids, respiratory droplets, and contaminated materials. Symptoms often include fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.
