As of 28 July 2024, a total of 14,250 cases of mpox (2,745 confirmed; 11,505 suspected) and 456 deaths have been recorded in 10 African countries, including Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo-Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa.
The DRC outbreak, ongoing since 2022, accounts for more than 90% of the reported cases of severe mpox clade 1b. This year, the DRC identified 13,791 cases, with children under 15 accounting for 68% of cases and 85% of deaths.
Four countries – Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda – previously unaffected by mpox, have reported cases since mid-July 2024 (at least 50 confirmed cases, with clade 1b now confirmed in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda).
There is a vaccine that is effective against both clades, but it is not widely available. The resources to contain and avoid this unfolding crisis exist but must be brought to bear to contain the outbreak with the greatest urgency possible.
This zoonotic virus, endemic to the forested regions of east, central and west Africa, has shown increased human-to-human transmission, including by way of sexual transmission, which deviates from the historically zoonotic (animal) nature of the disease.
Kenya’s Ministry of Health confirmed an outbreak of mpox clade 1b on 29 July 2024, originating from a traveller moving through Uganda and Rwanda. The development underscored the urgent need for enhanced public health measures across east Africa, as the high mobility of populations through key transport corridors poses a significant risk for regional transmission.
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The DRC outbreak, ongoing since 2022, accounts for more than 90% of the reported cases of severe mpox clade 1b. This year, the DRC identified 13,791 cases, with children under 15 accounting for 68% of cases and 85% of deaths.
Four countries – Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda – previously unaffected by mpox, have reported cases since mid-July 2024 (at least 50 confirmed cases, with clade 1b now confirmed in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda).
There is a vaccine that is effective against both clades, but it is not widely available. The resources to contain and avoid this unfolding crisis exist but must be brought to bear to contain the outbreak with the greatest urgency possible.
This zoonotic virus, endemic to the forested regions of east, central and west Africa, has shown increased human-to-human transmission, including by way of sexual transmission, which deviates from the historically zoonotic (animal) nature of the disease.
Kenya’s Ministry of Health confirmed an outbreak of mpox clade 1b on 29 July 2024, originating from a traveller moving through Uganda and Rwanda. The development underscored the urgent need for enhanced public health measures across east Africa, as the high mobility of populations through key transport corridors poses a significant risk for regional transmission.