More than 800 people across Africa have died from mpox this year, according to the African Union’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The agency reported on Thursday that the outbreak is far from being under control.
Since January, 34,297 cases of mpox have been recorded across the continent, with 38 of those cases in Ghana. This brings the total number of African countries affected by the virus to 16.
Jean Kaseya, head of Africa CDC, expressed concern over the current situation, stating during a press briefing, “The epidemic is not under control.” He added that 866 people have died from the virus so far this year.
Kaseya also highlighted the low rate of testing, noting that around 2,500 new cases were reported in the past week alone.
In response to the outbreak, the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is at the center of the epidemic, is set to begin vaccinations in two days. These vaccinations were originally planned to start on October 2.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans and through close physical contact between people. It causes symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and skin lesions that resemble large boils, and it can be fatal.
The Africa CDC has urged health authorities across the continent to take swift action to control the spread of the disease.
