The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has issued a stark warning regarding the ongoing pox outbreak in Africa, stating that the situation remains dire as cases continue to rise across several countries. Following the identification of a new variant, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. This development comes as countries grapple with the compounded challenges posed by another major outbreak following the COVID-19 pandemic, which has revealed significant weaknesses in health systems across the continent.
Recent data from the Africa CDC highlights a staggering 177% increase in mpox cases in Africa compared to the same period last year, with reported deaths rising by 38.5%. “We can say today that mpox is not under control in Africa. The increase in cases is concerning for all of us,” said Jean Kaseya, director general of Africa CDC, during a weekly briefing on the outbreak.
In just one week, 2,912 new cases were recorded, with Morocco reporting its first case, indicating that the disease has now spread to all four regions of the continent. To date, 15 of the 55 member states of the African Union have reported cases of mpox.
Tragically, Kaseya noted that the outbreak continues to claim lives, with 14 fatalities reported in the last week alone. In countries such as Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo, two strains of the virus are currently circulating. However, inadequate surveillance and testing capabilities hinder the ability to determine the full scope of the outbreak in other regions.
In response to the escalating crisis, Rwanda has commenced its vaccination campaign, while the Democratic Republic of Congo, identified as the epicenter of the outbreak, is scheduled to start vaccinations in early October. As the continent navigates this public health emergency, the Africa CDC emphasizes the urgent need for improved surveillance, testing, and vaccination efforts to curb the spread of mpox and protect vulnerable populations.
In other news – Mozambique prepares for historic elections with a focus on Diaspora participation.
An estimated 33,000 Mozambicans are set to participate in the upcoming harmonized elections, marking a significant step as the oceanic nation embraces the diaspora vote. The elections, scheduled for October 9, 2024, will see the country elect a successor to President Filipe Nyusi and 250 members of Parliament.
At a recent rally in Chegutu, Zimbabwe, Araujo Tonas Mafure, chairman of Frelimo in Zimbabwe, highlighted the deep revolutionary ties between Mozambique and Zimbabwe, urging Mozambicans in the diaspora to support Frelimo’s presidential candidate, Daniel Francisco Chapo. Read More
