Africa recorded 14,669 laboratory-confirmed Mpox cases and 55 fatalities in 2024, according to Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Dr. Moeti acknowledged the ongoing global threat posed by Mpox, which was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in November 2024. While noting progress in controlling the outbreak, she emphasized that challenges persist, and heightened vigilance remains necessary.
Key Progress Reported
Since October 2024, countries including the Republic of Congo, Gabon, Guinea, and South Africa have reported no active Mpox outbreaks for over six weeks. Recently, Ghana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have also transitioned to this control phase.
Dr. Moeti highlighted significant progress in disease surveillance, with 16 of the 19 affected African nations achieving testing rates above 80%. However, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains the outbreak’s epicenter, accounting for nearly 80% of confirmed cases.
“Mpox has spread to over 80% of the health zones in the DRC, but challenges such as limited diagnostic capacity and logistical difficulties hinder timely responses in many regions,” she explained.
Remaining Challenges
Despite progress, Mpox transmission continues in 12 African nations. Among them, eight countries—Burundi, the DRC, the Central African Republic, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Uganda, and Kenya—require urgent and targeted interventions due to high transmission levels.
“The DRC, Burundi, and Uganda alone account for more than 96% of confirmed cases in the region,” Dr. Moeti noted.
She called for enhanced global solidarity and additional resources to sustain progress, bridge gaps in vaccine access, and improve surveillance systems.
A Global Health Concern
As of November 27, 2024, Africa recorded 14,669 Mpox cases and 55 deaths. The international spread of the highly contagious clade 1b strain, which has been identified in countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, the United States, Thailand, and India, underscores the urgency of addressing the outbreak at its source to prevent further global transmission.
Mpox, caused by the monkeypox virus, presents symptoms including skin rashes, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. In severe cases, it can lead to death.
Ongoing Efforts and Vaccine Deployment
WHO, in collaboration with the Africa CDC and partners, has taken steps to address the outbreak. Over 2,000 health workers have been trained, 42,000 PCR test kits supplied, and community outreach campaigns implemented.
Vaccination campaigns are already underway in Nigeria, Rwanda, and the DRC, with plans to expand coverage to other nations. Nearly 900,000 vaccine doses have been allocated to nine African countries most affected by the outbreak.
Dr. Moeti highlighted the importance of targeted vaccination strategies and the emergency use approval of vaccines like MVA-BN to maximize the impact of limited supplies.
Conclusion
While progress is evident, Dr. Moeti stressed that the fight against Mpox is far from over. Strengthened national commitments and continued international collaboration are essential to safeguard communities in Africa and beyond.
