The spread of the virus continues to expand. After Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, these countries have also reported several cases of mpox, also known as “monkeypox.”
In 2024, more than 15,000 cases and 461 deaths have been recorded across twelve African countries, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Africa). This epidemic surge may be linked to the emergence of a more lethal strain of the virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), located in the heart of Africa.
In response to this concerning situation, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), is considering convening a committee of experts to determine whether the mpox outbreak in several African countries should be declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. This status represents the highest level of alert that the WHO can issue, a decision that relies on the recommendations of the committee.
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is a disease originally found in animals, particularly rodents in Africa. First detected in humans in 1970 in what is now the DRC, this disease has continuously evolved. In May 2022, mpox infections spread globally, primarily affecting gay and bisexual men, due to the Clade II subtype.
Since last September, a more lethal strain of the Clade has been spreading in the DRC, with transmission also observed through sexual contact between men. Tests have revealed that this is a new variant, resulting from a mutation of Clade I, called Clade Ib. In 2024, the DRC recorded over 11,000 cases, including 450 deaths. The geographic spread of monkeypox in parts of Africa where the disease had not previously existed is an alarming sign.
Source: Allo Docteurs Africa
