Mpox cases this year have shown an unprecedented rise in African continent as cases shoot up by 500% compared to last year, data from Africa CDC showed. The situation is far from being under control, said the national public health agency, as the new strain Clade Ib continues to show an upward trend.
"The situation is not yet under control, we are still on the upward trend generally," Ngashi Ngongo from Africa CDC told a briefing.
Mpox spread, driven by Clade Ib, caused an alarm this year after it started circulating in many African countries including Burundi and Rwanda that reported mpox virus for the first time. The outbreak continued outside of Africa spreading to multiple countries European countries, Sweden, Germany and in Britain.
To contain the global outbreak and take measures to curb it spread, WHO declared a global health emergency in August.
Nineteen African countries have reported more than 48,000 suspected mpox cases including 1,048 deaths so far this year, according to the public health agency's data.
Central Africa, which is the most affected by the outbreak, accounts for 85.7% of cases and 99.5% of deaths on the continent.
The virus can be transmitted through close physical contact, including sexual contact.
A zoonotic disease caused by the Mpox virus, the disease's early symptoms include fever, chills and body aches. A few days after emergence of these flu-like symptoms, a rash begins to develop. Appearing on the face first, it spreads over the entire body - palms, soles and evolves over 2-4 weeks in stages – macules, papules, vesicles, pustules.
Mpox spreads in two ways - from animals to humans and humans to humans. Infected monkeys, squirrels, rats, and non-human primates can be potential carriers and may transfer the infections through bites or scratches, or close contact.
The new strain of mpox - clade 1b is said to be behind the current outbreak which is considered to be more deadly and infectious. Clade 2 strain was behind the mpox cases globally in 2022 and 2023.
Clade 1 causes more severe symptoms like high fever, severe headache, myalgia and enlarged lymph nodes. The skin lesions are usually extensive and often can cause scarring of the affected regions whereas Clade 2 is associated with milder symptoms. Clade 1 has a higher fatality rate, ranging from 1% to 10% in some outbreaks, making it deadlier than Clade 2.
The monkeypox virus was discovered in Denmark in the year 1958 in monkeys kept for research. The first human case of mpox was reported in the year 1970 in a nine-month-old boy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Prevention of mpox
- Getting two doses of JYNNEOS vaccine, four weeks apart, can help prevent mpox.
- Avoid contact with wild animals, especially in areas where mpox is endemic. Thorough cooking of animal products is crucial.
- Avoid close contact with people who have mpox symptoms. Wash your hands properly and wear protective clothes or masks when caring for infected people.
- Sanitise potentially infected surfaces to prevent the infection from spreading.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, before eating or touching your face and after using the bathroom.
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