The African Union’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) announced on Thursday that more than 800 people have died from mpox across the continent this year, raising serious concerns about the ongoing epidemic.
Since January, Africa has recorded 34,297 cases of mpox, also known as monkeypox, across 16 countries, including 38 cases recently confirmed in Ghana, according to Africa CDC. The organization warned that the situation is far from being managed.
“The epidemic is not under control,” said Jean Kaseya, head of Africa CDC, during a press briefing. Kaseya revealed that the number of fatalities has reached 866, and testing rates remain “too low,” with 2,500 new cases detected just in the past week.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), identified as the epicenter of the outbreak, will begin its vaccination campaign in two days, Kaseya added. The vaccinations had initially been scheduled for October 2 but were delayed.
Mpox, caused by a virus transmitted to humans from infected animals and through close physical contact between people, can lead to fever, muscle aches, and severe skin lesions. The disease can be fatal, especially if not promptly treated.
Health officials across the continent continue to struggle with controlling the spread of the disease, with calls for increased testing and vaccination efforts.
