Africa CDC warns mpox is not under control, appeals for resources

October 31, 2024

The Africa CDC warns that the mpox outbreak remains uncontrolled with cases rising across 19 countries, including recent detection in Mauritius. Since January, Africa has recorded 48,000 cases and over 1,100 deaths. Africa CDC's Ngongo emphasizes the urgent need for political and financial support to prevent a pandemic potentially more severe than COVID-19. The outbreak highlights Africa's vulnerable health systems, still recovering from COVID-19. The emergence of clade 1b variant in the UK, Sweden, and Germany adds to concerns, as the virus continues to spread through both animal-human and human-human transmission.

The African Union's health watchdog has issued a stark warning about the continuing spread of mpox across the continent, highlighting urgent concerns about containment and resources.

Current Situation:
1. Scale of Outbreak:
- 48,000 cases since January
- Over 1,100 deaths reported
- 19 countries affected
- Latest case in Mauritius
- Continuous upward trend

2. Key Challenges:
- Outbreak not under control
- Limited financial resources
- Weakened health systems post-COVID
- Need for sustained political engagement
- Insufficient containment measures

3. Disease Characteristics:
- Two main subtypes: clade 1 and clade 2
- Transmission through:
* Infected animals to humans
* Close physical contact between humans
- Symptoms include:
* Fever
* Body aches
* Swollen lymph nodes
* Blistering rash

4. International Spread:
- Clade 1b variant detected in:
* United Kingdom
* Sweden
* Germany

5. Critical Needs:
- Continuous political mobilization
- Increased financial resources
- Stronger containment measures
- Enhanced surveillance
- Improved healthcare capacity

The Africa CDC's warning emphasizes the potential for mpox to develop into a pandemic more severe than COVID-19 without adequate resources and coordinated response efforts. This situation underscores the urgent need for international support to strengthen Africa's health systems and containment capabilities.