Africa Faces Urgent Mpox Outbreak, WHO Holds Emergency Meeting

August 10, 2024

Africa is facing a serious outbreak of mpox, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has held an urgent meeting to decide if this situation should be declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Currently, 15 African countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda—which previously had no cases—are reporting confirmed cases of mpox.

Current Statistics

There have been 2,030 confirmed cases of mpox and 13 deaths across these countries in 2024. The number of suspected cases has also risen sharply to over 15,000, with more than 500 deaths reported. This is a significant increase compared to the previous year, which saw 1,145 cases and seven deaths.

Variant Concerns

A new variant of the virus, called clade 1b, has appeared, mainly affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where 90% of the cases have been recorded. This variant is particularly dangerous for children, with a 10% mortality rate. It is also harder to detect because of mutations that current tests may miss. The spread of this variant across borders has led to deaths in Burundi, South Africa, and the DRC.

What is Mpox?

Mpox, which used to be called monkeypox, is caused by the monkeypox virus, part of the Orthopoxvirus family. It was first discovered in lab monkeys in 1958. The virus can spread through bites from infected animals, close contact with an infected person, or touching contaminated materials. Symptoms include fever, a rash, and swollen lymph nodes. Mpox is commonly found in Central and West Africa. Vaccination against smallpox can provide some protection against mpox. Despite its name, the primary hosts of the virus are rodents, not monkeys. In 2022, mpox was declared a public health emergency due to outbreaks occurring outside the regions where it is typically found.

Facts about the World Health Organization (WHO)

The World Health Organization (WHO) was founded on April 7, 1948.
It is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
WHO has 194 member countries.
To make sure everyone has access to good health care worldwide.
It responds to health emergencies and controls diseases, like polio.
WHO’s International Classification of Diseases helps doctors use the same names for illnesses everywhere.
It works on addressing the factors that affect health through various initiatives.

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