Over 800 Deaths as Mpox Epidemic Remains Uncontrolled in Africa

The African Union’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has issued a stark warning about the ongoing mpox epidemic on the continent, Arab News reported yesterday.

As of Thursday, the death toll from mpox has surpassed 800, with over 34,000 cases reported across Africa since January.

Jean Kaseya, the head of Africa CDC, emphasized that the epidemic is far from being under control. Despite the detection of 2,500 new cases in the past week alone, the testing rate remains “too low.” The Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicenter of the outbreak, is scheduled to begin vaccination efforts on October 4.

Mpox, a viral illness transmitted through close physical contact, has been officially detected in 16 African countries this year. The disease causes fever, muscular aches, and painful skin lesions, and can be fatal.