ECOWAS raises concern as Mpox spreads in Africa

The ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control has reported that monkeypox, also known as Mpox, continues to spread in the region, with 44 confirmed cases and one death recorded by the end of Epi Week 33 in 2024. The hardest-hit countries within ECOWAS are Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Ghana.

The report, released on Friday, August 16, and made available to journalists on Saturday, highlights the ongoing challenges in managing the outbreak. Mpox is a zoonotic viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus, a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus. Although similar to smallpox, Mpox is generally less severe. The virus spreads from animals to humans through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or lesions of infected animals, and human-to-human transmission occurs via respiratory droplets, body fluids, or contaminated objects.

As of August 15, 2024, the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control continues to monitor the Mpox situation both regionally and globally. The report indicates that since the beginning of the year, there have been 44 confirmed cases and one death in the ECOWAS region, with the breakdown as follows: Nigeria (24 cases), Côte d’Ivoire (11 cases), Liberia (5 cases), and Ghana (4 cases).

Across the African continent, Mpox has presented a severe public health challenge, with 37,583 cases and 1,451 deaths reported in 2024 alone. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been particularly hard hit, accounting for 96.3% of all cases and 97% of deaths on the continent this year.

The first half of 2024 saw a dramatic increase in Mpox cases across Africa, with 14,250 cases and 456 deaths, marking a 160% rise in cases and a 19% increase in deaths compared to the same period in 2023. The DRC remains the epicenter of the outbreak, with a case fatality rate of 3.2%.

In June 2024, the African region reported 567 new Mpox cases, underscoring the persistent spread of the virus. The Regional Centre has called for a significant escalation in response efforts, emphasizing the need for enhanced public awareness campaigns to educate communities about prevention and symptoms.

The Centre recommended strengthening surveillance systems to quickly detect and manage cases, timely reporting, and robust case management to mitigate the virus’s spread. It also urged improved cooperation among neighboring countries, highlighting the importance of coordinated surveillance, data sharing, and joint outbreak response efforts.

In response to the outbreak, the Africa Centre for Disease Control recently declared Mpox a “public health emergency of continental security.” Additionally, NIGERIA NEWS 247 reported that the European Union will donate 215,000 doses of vaccines to Africa to support the ongoing fight against Mpox.