Mpox (Monkeypox) Outbreak In Africa: What You Need To Know

Mpox (Monkeypox) is a highly contagious viral disease that can be transmitted through close contact with infected individuals or animals and through contaminated materials like sheets, clothing, and needles, as stated by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Common symptoms of MPOX include fever, painful rash, headache, muscle and back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.

Mpox became globally known two years ago after cases surfaced worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DRC is the country most hit hard by Mpox. According to reports, since the beginning of the year, more than 14,000 cases and 511 deaths have been reported.

Recently, reports have indicated that approximately 50 confirmed cases and several additional suspected cases have emerged in the past month across four neighbouring countries of the DRC: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. These cases have not been previously reported.

Key Facts About Mpox

• The first human case of monkeypox (formerly termed mpox) was identified in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

• Mpox (monkeypox) is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus. There are two different clades: clade I and clade II.

• Common symptoms of mpox include a skin rash or mucosal lesions, which can last 2–4 weeks, accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.

• Mpox can be transmitted to humans through physical contact with an infectious person, contaminated materials, or infected animals.

• Laboratory confirmation of monkeypox (mpox) is achieved by testing the material from skin lesions using PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing.

• Mpox is managed with supportive care. Vaccines and treatments developed for smallpox and authorised for use in certain countries may be utilised for mpox in specific situations.

• From 2022 through 2023, there was a widespread global outbreak of mpox, which was attributed to a particular strain identified as clade IIb.

• To prevent mpox, it is important to avoid physical contact with someone who has the infection. Additionally, vaccination is highly recommended for individuals at risk of infection to help prevent the spread of the disease—source: WHO.

Recent developments have revealed that sexual transmission among adults is a significant contributing factor in the spread of Mpox.

Notably, infection rates are particularly high among female commercial sex workers and male clients, emphasising the importance of targeted interventions and education to address this specific aspect of Mpox transmission.

Special Press Briefing On The Outbreak Of Mpox In Africa ~ Africa CDC

What You Need To Know

• The World Health Organization (WHO) is collaborating with the governments of the impacted nations, the Africa Centre for Disease Control, non-governmental organisations, civil society, and other partners to gain insight into and tackle the factors contributing to these outbreaks.

• Nigeria and the DRC have authorised the use of mpox vaccines for emergency situations in their respective regions.

• Mpox outbreaks are caused by different viruses called clades.

• Clade 1 has been present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for an extended period, whereas Clade 2 sparked the worldwide outbreak that commenced in 2022.

• The recent spread of the virus in the eastern DRC is attributed to a novel variant of Clade 1, known as Clade 1b. This variant is associated with more severe symptoms compared to Clade 2.

• According to recent updates, the presence of the clade has been confirmed in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. However, further analysis is still being conducted in Burundi to verify its presence there.

• This year, instances of Clade 1a have been documented in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, and the Republic of Congo. Additionally, Clade 2 has been identified in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Nigeria, and South Africa.

• In the last month, there have been approximately 50 confirmed cases of a disease, with more suspected cases, reported in four neighboring countries of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These countries include Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda; the cases have not been reported before.

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has initiated the process for Emergency Use Listing of both vaccines. This will speed up vaccine access, especially for lower-income countries that have not yet granted their national regulatory approval.

• Two mRNA vaccines have received approval from national regulatory authorities endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) has also recommended them.

• The WHO has developed a regional response plan that necessitates $15 million in funding. To commence the response efforts, the WHO has already designated $1 million from the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies.

• Africa CDC announced that it approved $10.4 million in emergency funding to assist affected countries in strengthening their smallpox surveillance and enhancing access to vaccines.

• As reported by the Africa CDC, there were 37,583 cases of mpox and 1451 deaths in 15 African countries from January 2022 until the end of last month.

• The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) recently approved the use of two different smallpox vaccines. The country currently has 50,000 doses of these vaccines, generously donated by the United States, which have yet to be administered.

• According to recent evidence, it is suggested that smallpox vaccines may still be effective after individuals have been infected. To investigate this further, the nonprofit organisation Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations revealed a collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research on July 27th. They plan to invest $4.9 million in a clinical trial to assess this possibility in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other African nations.

According to the Director of WHO, the most effective method to contain the virus and prevent its spread is to intensify public health measures, like surveillance, community engagement, treatment, and targeted deployment of vaccines for those at higher risk.

In the days and weeks ahead, we will closely monitor the news and provide the latest updates to keep you well-informed. To stay updated on the latest developments in the efforts to combat the spread of Mpox, subscribe to our mailing list, and follow us on social media.

Sources And References

• African region faces an unprecedented surge in mpox cases | WHO | Regional Office for Africa. (2024, August 7). WHO | Regional Office for Africa. https://www.afro.who.int/news/african-region-faces-unprecedent-surge-mpox-cases.

• Davis, M. (2024, August 7). Deadlier strain of mpox spreads to more countries, raising officials’ alarm. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/07/health/mpox-clade-i-drc/index.html.

• Cohen, J. (2024, August 3). Deadlier strain of mpox spreads to multiple African countries. Science | AAAS. https://www.science.org/content/article/deadlier-strain-mpox-spreads-more-african-countries.

• World Health Organization: WHO & World Health Organization: WHO. (2023, April 18). Mpox (monkeypox). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/monkeypox.

• WHO chief convenes expert meeting on mpox spread. (2024, August 7). UN News. https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/08/1152931.