Written By |
Last week alone, 3,545 new cases and 37 deaths were reported, with 467 of those cases confirmed
Search
The number of Mpox cases in Africa this year has exceeded 65,000, with the death toll rising to over 1,200, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Jean Kaseya, the Director-General of Africa CDC, reported that the continent has recorded 65,711 Mpox cases since January 2024, including 14,241 confirmed cases and 1,237 deaths.
Last week alone, 3,545 new cases and 37 deaths were reported, with 467 of those cases confirmed. The outbreak has affected 20 countries across Africa, prompting the health agency to call for urgent action.
Six countries—Gabon, Guinea, South Africa, Morocco, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—have moved from active transmission to controlled stages, offering a glimmer of hope. However, Kaseya emphasized that the continent is "still losing people" and urged concerted efforts to contain the outbreak.
In mid-August, the Africa CDC declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security. The World Health Organization followed suit, designating Mpox as a public health emergency of international concern.
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, was first identified in laboratory monkeys in 1958. The rare viral disease spreads through body fluids, respiratory droplets, or contaminated materials, causing symptoms such as fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.
The Africa CDC continues to stress the need for heightened vigilance, increased testing, and coordinated responses to combat the ongoing outbreak.
Source: Xinhua
