The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently declared mpox a global health emergency due to an outbreak of the virus triggered by a new strain that is spreading to different parts of Africa and beyond. The Democratic Republic of Congo accounts for almost 96 per cent of all cases in Africa, with the new strain being identified in countries that have never reported any monkeypox cases before. This has led to WHO declaring the current outbreak an ‘international concern’ as more than 17,000 cases of the deadlier strain of the virus have been found across the continent.
Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease caused by the Monkeypox virus, which belongs to the smallpox virus family. It can spread through direct contact with an infected person or animal. The virus can enter the body through broken skin, the respiratory tract, eyes, nose, or mouth. The cases have been rising at an alarming rate in the Democratic Republic of Congo, mainly due to Clade IB, and the virus has also raised alarm in 10 other African countries and even countries outside the continent.
The 13 African Union Member States with reported cases of mpox in 2024 include Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda.
Let’s take a closer look at the country-wise confirmed cases of the new mpox strain:
Burundi: The current variant that led to a dramatic increase in mpox cases in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo has caused around 100 cases in Burundi, with approximately 28 percent of these cases diagnosed in children under 5.
Kenya: Kenya declared the Mpox outbreak on July 31 after one patient was diagnosed with mpox in Taveta subcounty, Taita Taveta county. Health officials have identified 29 suspected cases, with 23 testing negative for Mpox and six cases pending confirmation.
Rwanda and Uganda: Rwanda reported its first mpox cases at the end of July 2024, confirming four cases, while Uganda confirmed two cases.
Sweden confirmed its first case of the new deadly mpox strain, with the infection occurring during a stay in an area of Africa.
A suspected case of mpox was reported in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), with four people in the country said to be affected.
The Philippines has recently detected a new case of the mpox virus, the first since December last year. Test results will determine the nature of the strain.
Symptoms of the mpox strain vary depending on the Clade. Clade 1 typically causes symptoms like high fever, severe headache, myalgia, and enlarged lymph nodes, with extensive skin lesions that can lead to scarring. Clade 2 is associated with milder symptoms.
In conclusion, the outbreak of the new mpox strain has become a significant global health concern, with cases reported in several African countries and beyond. It is essential for countries to take necessary precautions and measures to prevent the further spread of the virus and protect public health.
