The World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that nearly 30,000 suspected cases of mpox have been reported across Africa this year, with the majority occurring in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where testing resources have been exhausted. During the same period, more than 800 suspected mpox-related deaths have been recorded throughout the continent. Neighboring Burundi is also facing a growing outbreak, further straining the region’s healthcare systems.
Mpox is spread primarily through close contact and is usually mild, but in rare instances, it can be fatal. Symptoms typically include flu-like effects along with pus-filled skin lesions.
While the WHO did not provide comparisons to previous years, the African Union’s public health agency previously reported 14,957 cases and 739 deaths from seven affected nations in 2023, indicating a 78.5% rise in new cases compared to 2022.
According to the WHO, between January and September 15 of this year, Africa recorded 29,342 suspected cases and 812 deaths. Globally, August saw 2,082 confirmed cases, the highest monthly figure since November 2022.
In response to the ongoing crisis, the World Bank’s pandemic fund has committed $128.89 million to help ten African countries manage and combat the mpox outbreak.
