Mpox is spreading in Eastern and Southern Africa

As reported by UNICEF sources, the number of Mpox cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has continued to increase throughout this year, with over 21,000 reported from the beginning of the year to August 31st, 2024. Of these cases, over 5,000 have been confirmed and have resulted in 700 deaths. Since the initial confirmed case on 25 July 2024, Burundi has documented 564 cases of Mpox, 62.9% of which were among individuals under the age of 19, in addition to over 1,576 suspected cases. A total of 1,774 reports have emerged from 34 of Burundi’s 49 designated health districts. Of these, three districts in the capital, Bujumbura, have emerged as the epicentre of the outbreak. The situation in the Central African Republic is also a cause for concern. To prevent further dissemination, action must be taken in other countries that have recorded cases of the new Clade 1b strain, namely Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. Vaccination, infection control, and keeping essential services like education and healthcare running during the epidemic are urgent.