The ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control has reported that monkeypox, also known as Mpox, is continuing to spread in the region, with 44 confirmed cases and one death recorded by the end of Epi Week 33, 2024.
The hardest-hit countries in the ECOWAS region are Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Ghana.
The report, released on Friday, August 16, and made available to journalists on Saturday, provides a detailed overview of the situation.
According to the report, “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 levels. 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).”
Monkeypox is a zoonotic viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus, part of the Orthopoxvirus genus. Although it shares similarities with smallpox, monkeypox 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.
The African continent has been facing significant challenges in controlling the spread of Mpox, with a marked increase in cases and fatalities since the beginning of 2024. The report highlighted that “A total of 37,583 cases and 1,451 deaths have been reported across 15 African Union Member States. The Democratic Republic of Congo is the most affected, accounting for 96.3 per cent of all cases and 97 per cent of deaths in 2024 alone.”
The first half of 2024 saw a sharp rise in infections across Africa, with 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 epicenter of the outbreak, with a case fatality rate of 3.2 per cent, underscoring the severity of the crisis.
In June 2024 alone, 567 new cases were reported in the African region, further highlighting the relentless spread of the virus.
The Centre emphasized, “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 ECOWAS Regional Centre called for an immediate scaling up of response efforts, stressing 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,” the Centre advised.
Given the cross-border nature of disease transmission, the Centre also urged enhanced cooperation among neighboring countries. “Coordinated efforts in surveillance, data sharing, and joint outbreak response will be instrumental in containing the spread of monkeypox across borders,” it added.
The Africa Centre for Disease Control recently declared Mpox a “public health emergency of continental security” as the virus continues to spread across several countries.
In response to the crisis, the European Union announced that it would donate 215,000 doses of vaccines to Africa to help combat the ongoing Mpox outbreak.
