The World Health Organisation reported on Monday that Africa has seen nearly 30,000 suspected mpox cases this year, primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is facing a shortage of testing supplies.
The outbreak has resulted in over 800 suspected deaths across the continent. Additionally, Burundi, Congo’s central African neighbor, is experiencing a rising number of cases.
Mpox typically spreads through close contact and usually manifests with mild symptoms, though it can occasionally be fatal. Common symptoms include flu-like signs and pus-filled lesions on the body.
The WHO report did not include comparative data from previous years. The African Union’s public health agency noted 14,957 cases and 739 deaths in 2023, reflecting a 78.5% rise in new cases from 2022.
From January to September 15 this year, there have been 29,342 suspected cases and 812 deaths reported across Africa, according to the WHO.
In August alone, the WHO reported a total of 2,082 confirmed mpox cases worldwide, marking the highest monthly figure since November 2022.
Additionally, the World Bank’s pandemic fund announced on Saturday that it would allocate $128.89 million to ten African countries to assist in combating the outbreak.
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