Mpox Outbreak Spreads Across Africa, Africa CDC Raises Alarm
The Africa Center for Disease Control (Africa CDC) has sounded the alarm over the rapid spread of Mpox, a disease that has been affecting several countries across the continent. The disease, which is caused by contact between humans and animals, as well as physical interaction with other humans, has seen a significant increase in cases in recent days.
According to Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa CDC, the disease has affected all five regions of the continent, with six new countries reporting new cases in the last five days alone. A total of 18 more countries are at high risk of being affected.
Kaseya expressed concern over the high number of cases, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where 60 percent of the cases are children under 15. He attributed the spike in cases to sexual transmission, which he described as a major alarm for the world.
The Africa CDC boss appealed for support to manage cases in affected countries, citing insecurity, inadequate global attention, and limited vaccines as major impediments to tackling the disease. He emphasized that vaccines are limited, while hundreds are getting infected on the continent.
The growing call for more "equitable access" to Mpox vaccines has gained momentum, with the Africa CDC negotiating with partners to secure 10 million doses of vaccines for the continent, starting with 200,000 doses.
The first human case of Mpox was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the disease has been endemic. However, during the 2022 outbreak, cases began occurring in multiple countries where Mpox had not previously occurred. Kaseya attributed this to the increasing rate of climate change, which has exposed humans to more wildlife, and advocated for a "one-health" approach to dealing with the crisis.
The Africa CDC is consulting with global stakeholders, including the African Union, on declaring a public health emergency to address the spread of Mpox.