Mpox outbreak in African countries could become global concern: WHO

Mpox cases in African countries are increasing. The increase in cases is so rapid that there are fears and speculations that the virus may turn into a pandemic.

The virus that spreads across borders is an infectious disease and symptoms include flu, fever, chills and deep muscle aches. These are just the beginning and are followed by a cycle of rashes that take the form of raised spots at first and later take the form of fluid-filled blisters. The final stage of the rash is crusting all over the body.

It is important to know that an update by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said that 34 African nations are either reporting cases of the virus or are on the verge of a high risk of an outbreak.

According to the GuardianCongo is experiencing an alarming outbreak with more than 14,000 mpox cases and 511 deaths due to the virus since the start of this year.

Mpox cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo are nothing unusual, but what worries health officials is that the figures for reported cases and deaths this year are equal to the statistics for the entire year of 2023.

In addition, the disease has spread to previously unaffected areas, including the provinces of the DRC and its neighboring countries of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.

The virus has two distinct types known as clade I — formerly known as the Congo Basin clade — and clade II known as the West African clade.

However, a branch from clade I has sprouted which is called clade Ib and this variation is the reason for the escalation of mpox virus.

It begs the question of how the virus even spreads. The clade I propagated by humans eating contaminated bushmeat. As for clade Ib, it is transmitted from person to person, mainly through sexual contact and sometimes through other physical contact or contaminated household items.

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) mpox supervisor, Dr Rosamund Lewis, said: “We don’t know that it is more contagious, but it is transmitted through an efficient way.”

Dr. Jean Kaseya, Africa CDC chief, attributes the rise in cases to high levels of insecurity in Africa and the ongoing climate disaster is bringing people closer together, making it easier for the virus to spread among populations.

The virus crosses borders as infected and untested people travel.

Also, the Guardian reports that in Congo more than 70% of those infected are children under the age of 18. This may be due to their underdeveloped immune system and malnutrition which leaves children more exposed and vulnerable to the deadly disease.

As for deciding whether the disease could lead to an international outbreak, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is gathering and addressing experts to determine whether the mpox outbreak in Africa can become a “public health emergency of international concern.” of interest”.