- Around 1,400 recently reported instances of Mpox within a week in Africa.
The African health organization, CDC Africa, has noted close to 1,400 new instances of the illness Mpox in a week's span. As of now, there've been approximately 19,000 cases recorded since the start of the year, mentioned CDC Head Jean Kaseya during a press conference. Over 500 individuals have succumbed to the disease since the year started. The disease outbreaks are predominantly occurring in Central Africa, with the Democratic Republic of Congo reporting nearly 17,800 cases since the start of the year.
According to Kaseya, Mpox is becoming a major concern in Congo's eastern region, specifically in South Kivu. A protracted conflict in this resource-rich area has resulted in hundreds of thousands of people living in close quarters as displaced persons. This makes it simple for diseases to spread, and even basic hygiene practices like social distancing, hand washing, and mask-wearing are often impractical to implement.
Burundi reported a rise in Mpox cases within a week, from 265 to 572, based on CDC data.
Vaccines from the U.S. are anticipated
The Congolese health ministry anticipates receiving the inaugural batch of vaccines from the U.S. within the approaching week. Kaseya cited low vaccination rates as one of the barriers to managing the disease. What Africa desperately needs, however, are its own vaccine production facilities.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has elevated the highest level of alert due to Mpox outbreaks in Africa and the emergence of a potentially more hazardous variant. This is intended to encourage increased vigilance among global authorities. Previously, CDC Africa had already set the highest alert level for the continent.
The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the importance of prioritizing health and safety measures in response to the Mpox outbreaks and the emerging variant. Increased vigilance, including enhanced surveillance and response capabilities, is crucial to mitigate the spread of the disease.
Given the current situation, it's essential for affected countries to prioritize the establishment of local vaccine production facilities to ensure a steady supply of vaccines and better manage future public health crises.
