Monkeypox Outbreaks Increase by 160% in Africa as More Countries Report Cases

August 2, 2024 TruthUSA

The Africa CDC reported that the case fatality rate (CFR) of 3.9 percent in Africa is significantly higher than the global average.

African health officials have noted a 160 percent increase in monkeypox cases this year, emphasizing the high risk of further spread due to the lack of antiviral treatments or vaccines in most African countries.

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) released an outbreak report on July 31, revealing that monkeypox cases have been reported in 15 African countries over the past two-and-a-half years.

New cases of monkeypox have been reported in Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya, and the Central African Republic.

Concerns have been raised by Central African Republic’s public health minister, Pierre Somsé, about the increasing cases of monkeypox.

Kenya’s Health Ministry reported on July 31 that a passenger traveling from Uganda to Rwanda was found with monkeypox at a border crossing in southern Kenya, prompting an outbreak declaration.

According to the Africa CDC report, there have been approximately 14,250 monkeypox cases in Africa this year, a 160 percent increase compared to last year.

The Africa CDC highlighted that the 3.9 percent case fatality rate of monkeypox in Africa is significantly higher than that of the rest of the world.

Global monkeypox emergencies in the past have seen less than 1 percent of infected individuals succumb to the virus.

Recent historical reports have indicated case fatality rates as high as 11 percent, while more recent data from the World Health Organization (WHO) suggests rates between 3-6 percent, as reported in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

The Africa CDC report states that monkeypox-related deaths in Africa have increased by 19 percent this year.

Earlier this year, a deadlier variant of monkeypox was identified in Congo, capable of causing fatalities in up to 10 percent of cases.

Doctors Without Borders expressed concern about the expanding monkeypox outbreak in Congo, highlighting new genetic mutations of the virus and its presence in camps for displaced people in Congo’s North Kivu region, bordering Rwanda.

Dr. Louis Massing, the medical director for Doctors Without Borders in Congo, emphasized the risk of potential outbreaks due to population movements.

Monkeypox transmission occurs through close contact with infected individuals, including sexual transmission.

There are two main classifications of monkeypox: Clade I and Clade II.

In the United States, Clade II monkeypox cases are predominant, with a higher survival rate of 99.9 percent, as noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Clade I monkeypox causes more severe illness, with higher infectivity and mortality rates, occasionally leading to fatalities.

In December 2023, the CDC warned about the emergence of the deadlier monkeypox variant, advising caution to Americans traveling to Congo to prevent infection.

The European CDC stated on July 29 that the risk of the new monkeypox variant circulating in Africa affecting European populations is “low.”

While monkeypox outbreaks in Western countries have been effectively managed with treatments and vaccines, African countries like Congo lack access to these resources.

Dr. Louis Massing urged the urgent arrival of vaccines in Congo to protect vulnerable populations from the escalating monkeypox outbreak.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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