WHO reports alarming rise in monkeypox cases in Africa

GENEVA:

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday that moxie cases are increasing in Africa, urging intensive investigations to identify the root causes.

“Today, mpox remains a public health threat as the situation continues to evolve,” Rosamund Lewis, WHO’s technical chief for infectious disease, told a UN press conference in Geneva.

Lewis said more than 3,100 laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported worldwide since the start of 2024, with around 600 confirmed cases reported to the WHO from 26 countries in May alone.

“In addition, cases are increasing in Africa,” he warned, adding that Africa is now the top region for confirmed cases, replacing the Americas.

Since April, South Africa has reported 13 confirmed cases of mpox due to the clade IIb virus — a variant of mpox — and two deaths, he said.

At the same time, he said, the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to face a large outbreak of mpox due to class I of the virus, with 9,291 clinically compatible cases and 419 deaths among those reported in 2024 alone, with a high fatality rate. a ratio of almost 5%.

According to the technical guide, children are particularly affected by this outbreak with “even higher mortality rates”.

“While the clade I virus is so far limited to central Africa, its potential spread to neighboring countries and other regions remains a concern, given the observed lethality of this clade virus,” Lewis said. “Combined with limited immunity worldwide, the risk of wider outbreaks remains, creating a significant threat to public health.”

There is a critical need to address the recent increase in mpox cases in Africa, he urged, adding: “Intensified research and monitoring efforts are essential to determine the root causes behind the resurgence.”

He said those with advanced HIV infection are at “greater risk” of serious illness and death from mpox.