WHO to Assess Spread of Mpox in Africa

• 08 Aug 2024

On 7th August, 2024, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that it will form an expert group to evaluate whether the escalating spread of mpox in Africa should be declared a global emergency.

Key Points

• Increasing Spread across Africa: WHO Director-General announced plans to consult independent experts due to the surge in mpox cases, particularly beyond Congo.
• The Africa CDC reports mpox now affects 10 African countries, with Congo accounting for over 96% of cases and deaths.
• Sharp Rise in Cases and Deaths: Cases of mpox have surged by 160% compared to the same period last year, with deaths increasing by 19%. In Congo, nearly 70% of cases are in children under 15, who also represent 85% of deaths.
• New Cases and Deadlier Strain: Mpox has recently been detected in Burundi and Rwanda, with other countries like Kenya and the Central African Republic also reporting cases.
• WHO Funding and Response: The WHO has allocated USD 1 million from its emergency fund to support the response to mpox.
• Previous outbreaks were largely controlled in Western countries with vaccines and treatments, which remain scarce in Africa.