The ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control has confirmed the worrying outbreak of monkeypox in the sub-region, with 44 cases and one death recorded as of Epidemiological Week 33 this year.
This is as the Centre listed Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Ghana among the have most affected countries within the ECOWAS sub-region.
The report, shared with journalists on Saturday, highlighted ongoing concerns about Mpox, also known as monkeypox, a zoonotic viral disease, caused by the monkeypox virus from the Orthopoxvirus genus, and resembles smallpox but is typically less severe.
It is transmitted from animals to humans through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or lesions of infected animals while human-to-human transmission occurs through respiratory droplets, contact with infected body fluids, or contaminated objects.
According to the reports; “As of August 15, 2024, the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control is actively monitoring the Mpox situation at regional, continental, and global levels.
“By the end of Epi Week 33, the region has recorded 44 confirmed cases and one death since the start of the year, distributed as follows: Nigeria (24 cases), Côte d’Ivoire (11 cases), Liberia (5 cases), and Ghana (4 cases).”
The report noted that the broader African continent continues to face significant challenges in controlling Mpox, with a troubling rise in cases and deaths since early 2024.
It stated that this year alone, Africa has so far reported 37,583 cases with 1,451 deaths, marking a severe public health crisis, noting that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is disproportionately affected, accounting for 96.3 percent of all cases and 97 percent of deaths reported continent-wide in 2024.
Also, the report showed that the first half of 2024 saw an alarming surge in infections across Africa, with 14,250 Mpox cases and 456 deaths, a 160 percent increase in cases and a 19 percent rise in fatalities compared to the same period last year.
The Centre noted that unfortunately DRC remains the epicenter of the outbreak, with a case fatality rate of 3.2 percent, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Offering further statistics, the Centre said in June 2024 alone, the African region reported 567 new Mpox cases, emphasizing the virus’s relentless spread, even as it called for an immediate escalation of response efforts.
Furthermore, the Centre stressed the importance of public awareness campaigns to educate communities about Mpox prevention and symptoms while recommending enhanced surveillance systems to detect and respond to cases promptly, along with robust case management to mitigate the virus’s spread.
The Centre, which noted the cross-border nature of Mpox transmission, canvassed enhanced cooperation among neighboring countries, adding that coordinated surveillance, data sharing, and joint outbreak responses remain crucial in controlling the virus’ spread across borders.
It is no record that the Africa Centre for Disease Control (ACDC) recently declared Mpox a “public health emergency of continental security” due to its extensive spread across many countries within the continent.
