Almost 30,000 Suspected Mpox Cases in Africa This Year, According to WHO – Reuters

LONDON (Reuters) – Nearly 30,000 suspected cases of mpox have been reported in Africa this year, with the majority occurring in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where testing resources have been depleted, according to a statement from the World Health Organization (WHO) released on Monday.

The report from the U.N. health agency indicated that over 800 individuals have died from suspected mpox across the continent during this period. Neighboring Burundi is also experiencing a rising outbreak.

Mpox primarily spreads through close contact. While the disease is generally mild, there are rare instances where it can be fatal. Symptoms typically include flu-like characteristics along with pus-filled lesions on the body.

The WHO did not provide comparative statistics from previous years, but the African Union’s public health agency reported 14,957 cases and 739 deaths from seven impacted countries this year, reflecting a 78.5% surge in new cases compared to 2022.

From January to September 15 this year, the WHO reported 29,342 suspected cases and 812 deaths across Africa.

In August alone, there were 2,082 confirmed cases reported worldwide, marking the highest monthly count since November 2022, according to the WHO.

Additionally, the World Bank’s pandemic fund announced on Saturday that it would allocate $128.89 million to ten African nations to assist in controlling the outbreak.