The World Health Organization, WHO, has reported a 6,603 confirmed mpox cases, including 32 deaths across 15 African countries in 2024, with 402 confirmed cases and no deaths reported in the last week.
According to the 38th WHO situation report for the multi-country outbreak of mpox published 28th September 2024, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Nigeria are reporting the most suspected cases.
It added that the Congo remains the epicenter of the outbreak in Africa, with a total of 5,621 confirmed cases and 25 deaths, and 27,103 suspected cases and 838 deaths among the suspected cases.
It is followed by Burundi, 696 cases, no deaths and Nigeria 78 cases, no deaths, even as all currently affected countries on the continent have
reported new cases in the last six weeks, with Guinea reporting its first mpox case in the past month.
The World health body also emphasised the need for increased surveillance, testing, and contact tracing to prevent further spread of mpox in Africa, and outlined a research roadmap to address knowledge gaps and inform response efforts.
