Over 25,000 mpox cases reported in Africa in 2024, WHO confirms

According to WHO data, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the most affected country, with 21,835 recorded cases and 717 fatalities. Across the entire African continent, 25,093 mpox cases have been reported. Laboratory confirmation was received for 5,789 cases, including 32 deaths as of September 8.

Globally, from January 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024, a total of 103,048 confirmed mpox cases were registered in 121 countries, resulting in 229 deaths. The United States recorded the highest number of cases with 33,556, followed by Brazil (11,841), Spain (8,104), and the DRC (4,395). These top 10 countries account for 80% of all mpox cases worldwide.

Despite the removal of the Mpox Global Health Emergency in May 2023, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reinstated the emergency on August 14, 2024, due to the resurgence of the disease in Africa.

Mpox is primarily transmitted in remote areas of central and western Africa, with the first case of animal-to-human transmission recorded in the DRC in 1970. The disease continues to pose a significant public health threat, particularly in areas with limited access to healthcare. (ILKHA)