ECOWAS raises the alarm as Mpox spreads in Africa

The ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control has reported that monkeypox continues to spread in the region, with 44 confirmed cases and one death recorded by the end of Epi Week 33, 2024.

Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Ghana are the hardest-hit countries in ECOWAS.

The report was released on Friday, August 16, and made available to journalists on Saturday.

Mpox, or monkeypox, is a zoonotic viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus, part of the Orthopoxvirus genus. While it shares similarities with smallpox, it is generally less severe.

The virus spreads from animals to humans through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or lesions of infected animals.

Human-to-human transmission occurs through respiratory droplets, contact with infected body fluids, or exposure to contaminated objects.

“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 at 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 experience significant challenges in controlling the spread of Mpox, with a marked increase in cases and fatalities since the beginning of 2024.

With 37,583 cases and 1,451 deaths reported this year, the continent is facing a massive public health emergency.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is bearing the brunt of this crisis, shockingly accounting for 96.3 per cent of all cases and 97 per cent of deaths continent-wide in 2024 alone.

The first half of 2024 saw an explosive rise in infections across Africa—14,250 Mpox cases and 456 deaths—representing a 160 per cent increase in cases and a 19 per cent jump in fatalities compared to the same period last year.

The DRC remains the epicentre of the outbreak, with a case fatality rate of 3.2 per cent, underscoring the severity of the crisis.

“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 per cent of all cases and 97 per cent 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 per cent and deaths 19 per cent compared to the same period in 2023. The case fatality rate stands at 3.2 per cent for 2024, with the highest burden in DRC,” it added.

In June 2024 alone, 567 new cases were reported in the African region, highlighting the relentless spread of the virus.

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 called for an immediate scaling up of response efforts.

It stressed the need for urgent public awareness campaigns to educate communities about prevention 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 declared Mpox a “public health emergency of continental security” as the virus has spread across several countries.

PUNCH Online reported on Wednesday that the European Union would donate 215,000 doses of vaccines to Africa in a significant move to combat the ongoing Mpox outbreak in the continent.