The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a concerning surge in mpox cases across Africa, with 6,603 confirmed cases and 32 deaths across 15 countries as of September 28, 2024 ¹. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains the epicenter of the outbreak, accounting for 5,621 confirmed cases and 25 deaths, followed by Burundi with 696 cases and Nigeria with 78 cases ¹.
Countries Affected:
- Democratic Republic of the Congo: 5,621 confirmed cases, 25 deaths
- Burundi: 696 confirmed cases, no deaths
- Nigeria: 78 confirmed cases, no deaths
- Guinea: reported its first mpox case in the past month ¹
The WHO has emphasized the need for increased surveillance, testing, and contact tracing to prevent further spread of mpox in Africa ¹. Testing challenges and delays in case confirmation continue to hinder efforts to control the outbreak in the DRC, where positivity among tested cases is around 55% ¹.
Key Statistics:
- 31,427 suspected cases, including 844 deaths (CFR 2.7%) reported in Africa as of September 22, 2024 ¹
- 106,310 confirmed mpox cases reported with 234 deaths across 123 countries since the beginning of the year ¹
- Children under 5 years of age account for approximately 30% of confirmed cases in Burundi ¹
The WHO has outlined a research roadmap to address knowledge gaps and inform response efforts ¹. With the situation evolving rapidly, it’s essential to stay informed and take preventive measures to curb the spread of mpox.
