The ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control reports that monkeypox (Mpox) is still spreading in the region, with 44 confirmed cases and one fatality by the end of Epi Week 33, 2024.
The hardest-hit countries in ECOWAS are Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Ghana.
The report was released on Friday, August 16, and distributed to journalists on Saturday.
Mpox, or monkeypox, is a zoonotic viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus. While it has parallels to smallpox, it is typically less severe.
The virus is transmitted from animal to human via direct contact with infected animals’ blood, body fluids, or sores.
“As of August 15, 2024, the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control continues to monitor the Mpox situation in the ECOWAS region, as well as continental and global level.
“As of Epi Week 33, a total of 44 confirmed cases and one death have been reported in the ECOWAS region since the beginning of the year: Nigeria (24), Cote d’Ivoire (11), Liberia (5), and Ghana (4),” the report revealed.
However, the African continent has continued to face considerable difficulty in preventing the spread of Mpox, with a sharp increase in cases and fatalities since the beginning of 2024.
With 37,583 cases and 1,451 deaths documented this year, the continent is experiencing a catastrophic public health crisis.
The Democratic Republic of Congo bears the burden of this problem, accounting for 96.3% of all cases and 97% of deaths across the continent in 2024 alone.
The first half of 2024 saw an enormous growth in infections across Africa, with 14,250 Mpox cases and 456 deaths, representing a 160 percent increase in cases and a 19% increase in fatalities over the same period last year.
The DRC remains the core of the outbreak, with a case fatality rate of 3.2%, emphasising the gravity of the situation.
“However, the African continent has continued to experience significant challenges in controlling the spread of Mpox, with a marked increase in cases and fatalities since the beginning of 2024.
“A total of 37,583 cases and 1,451 deaths have been reported across 15 African Union Member States. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the most affected, accounting for 96.3 percent of all cases and 97 percent of deaths in 2024 alone.
“In the first half of 2024, the continent saw 14,250 Mpox cases, including 2,745 confirmed cases and 456 deaths, representing a significant increase in both cases 160 percent and deaths 19 percent compared to the same period in 2023. The case fatality rate stands at 3.2 percent for 2024, with the highest burden in DRC,” it added.
In June 2024, 567 new cases were reported in Africa, illustrating the virus’s relentless expansion.
The Centre stated, “June 2024 saw a global continuation of Mpox transmission, with 567 new cases reported from the African Region, further underscoring the ongoing public health emergency.”
The Regional Centre urged quick scaling up of response operations.
It emphasised the necessity for immediate public awareness initiatives to educate communities about preventive measures and symptoms.
“We recommend strengthened surveillance systems to promptly detect and respond to monkeypox cases. Timely reporting and robust case management are critical in mitigating the spread of the virus.
“Given the cross-border nature of disease transmission, we strongly encourage enhanced cooperation among neighbouring countries.
“Coordinated efforts in surveillance, data sharing, and joint outbreak response will be instrumental in containing the spread of monkeypox across borders,” it advised.
The Africa Centre for Disease Control recently called Mpox a “public health emergency of continental security” due to the virus’s spread across multiple countries.
