The ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control has reported a continuing outbreak of monkeypox in the region, with 44 confirmed cases and one death recorded by the end of Epidemiological Week 33 in 2024.
Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Ghana are currently the most affected countries within the ECOWAS area.
The report, released on Friday, August 16, and shared with journalists on Saturday, highlights ongoing concerns about Mpox, also known as monkeypox.
This zoonotic viral disease, caused by the monkeypox virus from the Orthopoxvirus genus, resembles smallpox but is typically less severe.
Transmission occurs from animals to humans through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or lesions of infected animals.
Human-to-human transmission happens via respiratory droplets, contact with infected body fluids, or contaminated objects.
“As of August 15, 2024, the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control is actively monitoring the Mpox situation at regional, continental, and global levels,” the report stated.
“By the end of Epi Week 33, the region has recorded 44 confirmed cases and one death since the start of the year, distributed as follows: Nigeria (24 cases), Côte d’Ivoire (11 cases), Liberia (5 cases), and Ghana (4 cases).”
The broader African continent continues to face significant challenges in controlling Mpox, with a troubling rise in cases and deaths since early 2024.
This year alone, Africa has reported 37,583 cases and 1,451 deaths, marking a severe public health crisis. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is disproportionately affected, accounting for 96.3% of all cases and 97% of deaths reported continent-wide in 2024.
The first half of 2024 saw an alarming surge in infections across Africa, with 14,250 Mpox cases and 456 deaths—a 160% increase in cases and a 19% rise in fatalities compared to the same period last year.
The DRC remains the epicenter of the outbreak, with a case fatality rate of 3.2%, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
In June 2024 alone, the African region reported 567 new Mpox cases, emphasizing the virus’s relentless spread.
The Centre has called for an immediate escalation of response efforts. It stressed the importance of public awareness campaigns to educate communities about Mpox prevention and symptoms.
Additionally, the Centre recommended enhanced surveillance systems to detect and respond to cases promptly, along with robust case management to mitigate the virus’s spread.
Given the cross-border nature of Mpox transmission, the Centre urged increased cooperation among neighboring countries.
Coordinated surveillance, data sharing, and joint outbreak responses are crucial to controlling the virus’s spread across borders.
The Africa Centre for Disease Control has recently declared Mpox a “public health emergency of continental security” due to its extensive spread across multiple countries.
