A total of 38,465 cases of the disease, formerly known as monkeypox, have been reported in 16 African countries since January 2022, with 1,456 deaths. The number of cases increased by 160% in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to data released last week by the health agency Africa CDC.
“MPOX has now crossed borders, affecting thousands of people across our continent. […] I announce, with a heavy heart but with an unwavering commitment to our people, to our African citizens, that we are declaring MPOX a continental public health emergency,” Africa CDC President Jean Kasenya said at a press conference.
New strain
“This declaration is not a mere formality, it is a clear call to action. It is a recognition that we can no longer afford to be reactive. We must be proactive and aggressive in our efforts to contain and eliminate this scourge,” he added. This announcement, which will notably make it possible to release funds for access to vaccines and to have a continental response, comes on the eve of the meeting of the emergency committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) to assess whether to declare the highest level of health alert at the international level in the face of this disease.
Africa is facing the spread of a new strain of the virus, detected in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in September 2023 and called “Clade Ib”, more deadly and more transmissible than the previous ones. Cases have been reported across the continent (Morocco, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, South Africa, etc.).
Stigma
According to the Africa CDC, the fatality rate of the virus is over 3% and children under 15 are the most affected, accounting for at least 60% of cases. MPOX is a viral disease that spreads from animals to humans but is also transmitted through close physical contact with a person infected with the virus. The “Clade Ib” causes rashes all over the body, while previous strains were characterized by localized rashes and lesions, on the mouth, face or genitals.
A previous strain of the virus spread in 2022 to about 100 countries, affecting mostly gay and bisexual men. Even today, infected people can be stigmatized, making it difficult to fight the disease.
