Nearly 30,000 Suspected Mpox Cases Reported in Africa This Year

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported nearly 30,000 suspected mpox cases in Africa in 2024, with the majority occurring in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which is currently facing a shortage of testing supplies, Reuters reported yesterday.

The outbreak has resulted in over 800 deaths across the continent. Burundi, a neighboring country, is also experiencing a rising number of cases.

Mpox typically spreads through close contact and can cause flu-like symptoms along with pus-filled lesions, though it is usually mild and fatal in rare instances. In comparison, the African Union reported 14,957 cases and 739 deaths in seven affected states in 2023, marking a 78.5% increase from 2022.

As of September 15, there were 29,342 suspected cases and 812 deaths reported in Africa. The WHO noted that August alone saw 2,082 confirmed cases globally, the highest monthly total since November 2022. The World Bank’s pandemic fund is contributing $128.89 million to assist ten African countries in combating the outbreak.