Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, has been declared a public health emergency in Africa by the continent’s leading health authority, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The declaration comes in response to a concerning surge in cases driven by a new strain of the virus.
According to Africa CDC scientists, the spread of this new variant of mpox is accelerating at an alarming rate. Since the beginning of the year, more than 13,700 cases and 450 deaths have been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The virus, which can cause painful lesions across the body, has also spread to neighbouring countries including Burundi, the Central African Republic (CAR), Kenya, and Rwanda.
Mpox spreads from animals to humans and can also be transmitted between people through close contact. This includes sexual contact, skin-to-skin contact, and even talking or breathing near an infected person. Symptoms of the virus include fever, muscle aches, and widespread lesions. If not treated promptly, mpox can be fatal.
There are two primary strains of mpox. The milder strain, which led to a global outbreak in 2022, affected various parts of the world including Europe, Australia, and the United States, and was largely spread through sexual contact. The more deadly strain, which is endemic in Central Africa, is responsible for the recent outbreak in DR Congo.
On 2nd August 2024, Uganda declared 2 cases of Mpox in Kasese District, a 37 year old and a 22 year old female. These were however imported cases from the democratic republic of Congo and therefore not counted on Uganda’s official tally of cases in the recent outbreak.
According to a Health Ministry press release, there was no secondary transmission from the two cases which have since healed.
The Africa CDC’s declaration of a public health emergency is aimed at improving coordination among governments and potentially increasing the flow of medical supplies and aid to affected areas. International health officials are closely monitoring the situation to evaluate the risk of the outbreak spreading beyond Africa.
Currently, there are three vaccines available for mpox, but they are typically administered only to individuals at high risk or those who have been in close contact with an infected person. The new public health measures and heightened international attention may help in controlling the outbreak and mitigating its impact.
The situation remains fluid, and efforts are underway to curb the spread of this dangerous virus and protect public health across the continent.
