Africa: Monkeypox caused 511 deaths
So far, the monkeypox virus has been active mainly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where, according to WHO data, it has infected more than 14,000 people since the beginning of the year and has been responsible for 511 deaths. The disease has long been present in the DRC, where it was first detected in 1970, but in recent years there has been a gradual increase in incidence. The current outbreak is caused by a virus called clade 1b, which is highly contagious through close contact, especially among children.
Monkeypox in Africa: The alarming rate of spread of the disease
Over the past month, additional cases of monkeypox have been reported in countries neighbouring the DRC. A week ago, the Africa CDC warned that the rate of spread of the disease was alarming. She said that since the beginning of the year, more than 15,000 cases of infection by this virus have been recorded across Africa, which represents an increase of 160% compared to the same period last year.
– Monkeypox has already crossed borders, infecting thousands of people across our continent (…). With a heavy heart (…) We declare mpox a public health threat to continental security Africa CDC Director General Jean Kasenya made the announcement during an online press briefing. He also called for immediate action to stop and eliminate the disease.
A few days ago, the Africa CDC called for “global solidarity” over monkeypox vaccines. Africa currently has access to just 200,000 vaccine doses when it needs 10 million.
A meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Committee on monkeypox is scheduled for Wednesday. During this meeting, experts will assess whether the current situation requires the highest level of international health alert for this disease.
Monkeypox is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by a virus. The virus is transmitted through close contact. Monkeypox is characterized by flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, and muscle aches. Pus-filled skin lesions similar to pustules also occur, making it difficult to distinguish from chickenpox. This disease occurs most frequently in Africa.
