Africa’s leading public health authority, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), declared a “public health emergency of continental security” on Tuesday in response to a rapidly spreading mpox outbreak.
The virus, originating in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has now crossed borders, raising significant concern across the continent.
Transmission and Impact
Mpox, a viral infection transmitted through close contact, manifests in flu-like symptoms and pus-filled skin lesions. While most cases remain mild, the disease can be fatal.
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The current outbreak stems from an endemic strain in Congo, known as Clade I. However, a new variant, Clade Ib, has emerged, demonstrating a higher transmission rate, particularly among children.
Alarming Spread
The Africa CDC recently sounded the alarm over the infection’s rapid spread. To date, more than 15,000 cases and 461 deaths have been reported across the continent in 2024 alone. This marks a staggering 160 per cent increase compared to the same period in the previous year.
Historical Context and Global Implications
Mpox has been endemic in certain African regions since it was first identified in humans in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970. In 2022, a milder strain of the virus spread to over 100 countries, primarily through sexual contact, leading the World Health Organisation (WHO) to declare a public health emergency of international concern.
Although the WHO lifted the emergency 10 months later, citing improved control measures, the resurgence of the virus in Africa has reignited global health concerns.
