As of 2024, the mpox outbreak has impacted 15 countries in Africa, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The agency cautioned that various virus clades contribute to “layers of complexity,” hinder timely diagnosis, and limit access to treatment. The latest WHO report on mpox epidemics indicates active transmission in these 15 nations, defined by cases reported within the past six weeks.
Ghana has recently entered the list of affected countries, confirming its first mpox case earlier in October. As of September 29, 2024, the African region has seen a total of 37,325 suspected mpox cases, which include 996 fatalities and 6,602 confirmed cases, with the majority originating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The DRC has reported 30,766 suspected cases and faces a notably high fatality rate due to delays in diagnosis and inadequate treatment access in various health zones. Alarmingly, only 39 percent of suspected cases have undergone testing in 2024, revealing a positivity rate of approximately 55 percent among those tested, according to the WHO.
The health organization emphasized that many suspected mpox cases remain untested and, consequently, never confirmed due to limited diagnostic capabilities. In the newly published report, Ghana was identified as the latest affected country, having reported its first mpox case of the year on October 1. The patient, a young boy exhibiting symptoms such as rash, fever, and body aches, is currently isolated, and contact tracing is underway while genetic sequencing is being conducted to identify the specific clade.
The region is grappling with multiple clades of the virus, complicating response efforts further, as stated by the WHO. Clade Ia is circulating in the Central African Republic, Clade Ib is found in Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi, and Clade IIb has been reported in Nigeria and South Africa. This situation complicates outbreak management across the affected countries, as highlighted in the report.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has underscored the critical importance of bolstering laboratory capabilities, enhancing surveillance systems, and improving coordination across borders. They have urged member nations to prioritize early detection, execute focused vaccination initiatives, and escalate public health measures, particularly in regions witnessing a surge in case numbers.
In mid-August, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognized the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa as a public health emergency of continental significance.
Shortly thereafter, the WHO designated mpox as a public health emergency of international concern, marking the activation of the highest global alert level for this disease for the second time in just two years. Notably, the latest bulletin from the WHO did not mention Zambia, which had reported its first mpox case the previous Thursday, involving a Tanzanian national who had visited Chitambo Town in Central Province.
