Addis Ababa, Oct 12:   The ongoing monkeypox outbreak in Africa has led to 979 deaths, with 38,300 cases reported since the beginning of 2024, including 7,339 confirmed instances, as stated by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

During an online press conference, Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya reported that there were 3,186 new cases in the past week, comprising 489 confirmed cases and 53 fatalities. Kaseya highlighted the outbreak as a significant public health issue across the continent, with cases reported in sixteen countries across all five regions.

According to data from the African Union’s healthcare agency, Central Africa is the most impacted region, responsible for more than 99 percent of all monkeypox-related deaths this year. Six countries in Central Africa have reported a total of 33,735 suspected cases, 7,109 confirmed cases, and 979 deaths in 2024.

“With the rise in cases, monkeypox continues to be a major public health concern in Africa. Last week alone, we documented 3,186 new cases, averaging between 2,500 and 3,000 new cases weekly over the past four to five weeks,” Kaseya explained. He also noted that the death toll has not decreased, indicating that the outbreak is still active and escalating, requiring ongoing focus to contain it.

Kaseya remarked that this year’s monkeypox case count reflects an alarming 300 percent increase compared to the total cases from 2023. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, and Uganda are the five countries with the highest confirmed cases, accounting for 98.7 percent of all cases.

Emphasizing the need for stronger efforts to combat the virus, Kaseya called for prioritizing research and investigations among vulnerable populations, particularly children under 15.

In mid-August, the Africa CDC declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of continental security. The World Health Organization (WHO) followed suit, declaring monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern, activating its highest level of global alert for the second time in two years.

Monkeypox, first identified in laboratory monkeys in 1958, is believed to be transmitted from wild animals, such as rodents, to humans or through human contact. The rare viral disease spreads through body fluids, respiratory droplets, and contaminated materials, with symptoms including fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.