Mpox Outbreak in Africa Raises Global Concern

Strain More Lethal

The UN World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the response to the mpox outbreak in over a dozen African countries. The virus, which was mostly spread through close contact during the global outbreak in 2022, is now spreading more rapidly in Central Africa.

Evidence from past outbreaks indicates that the viral strain spreading in Central Africa is more lethal than the strain that sparked the 2022 global mpox outbreak.

15 African Countries With Outbreak

Fifteen African countries are currently reporting an mpox outbreak with a total of 2030 confirmed cases and 13 deaths so far this year compared with 1145 cases and 4 deaths during the same period in 2022.

The Africa CDC has called the declaration a crucial step toward enhancing coordination among African countries to address the ongoing mpox outbreak.

History of Mpox

Mpox is an infectious disease caused by monkeypox virus MPXV which is endemic in densely forested regions of West Central and East Africa particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The 202223 global mpox outbreak occurred despite repeated warnings from African researchers and calls for investment into diagnostic therapeutic and vaccine development.