A recent surge in mpox cases in Africa has led to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention declaring a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security, with a new, more transmissible strain of the virus driving the outbreak.
Here are key points to understand about the situation:
- What is mpox?: Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is an infectious disease with two subtypes: clade I (deadlier) and clade II (less severe).
- The global outbreak: A new strain (clade IIb) spread globally in 2022, mainly affecting gay and bisexual men, with the WHO declaring a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
- The new strain: The current outbreak is driven by the deadlier clade I and its mutated variant, clade Ib, which has been detected in several African countries and is more transmissible.
- Transmission: Clade Ib has been spreading through sexual transmission, including between heterosexuals, and non-sexual contact, including among children.
- Affected areas: The majority of cases are in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda have also reported cases.
- Vaccines: Vaccines were quickly deployed in wealthier regions during the 2022 outbreak, but availability has been limited in African countries.
An agreement has been made to supply 200,000 vaccine doses, with plans to secure 10 million more.
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The situation highlights the need for increased support and vaccine availability to control the outbreak.
