6,883 Monkeypox Cases Recorded In 13 African Countries In 2022

Since the beginning of 2022, 13 African nations have recorded 6,883 cases of monkeypox, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

Data from the Africa CDC shows that within the same time period, 173 fatalities and a case-fatality ratio of 2.5% were also reported.

Out of the 6,883 instances, the continental health agency said that 5,992 are suspected cases and 891 are confirmed cases.

Five non-endemic and eight endemic nations both reported instances of monkeypox.

According to the Africa CDC, the five non-endemic nations are Egypt, Morocco, Mozambique, South Africa, and Sudan, while the eight endemic countries are Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Liberia, and Nigeria.

The Africa CDC has been urging African nations to improve their capacity for monkeypox genome sequencing and laboratory diagnostics since the World Health Organization designated monkeypox a worldwide public health emergency of international concern in July of this year.

The continental health organization urged African nations to create and disseminate risk communication strategies that are both generic and specific to their regions' most vulnerable populations.

The 1958 discovery of monkeypox in lab monkeys led to the assumption that it may spread from people to wild animals like rats or from one human to another.

It is an uncommon viral illness that is often spread through contaminated surfaces, respiratory droplets, and bodily fluids.

Typical symptoms of the illness include fever, rash, and enlarged lymph nodes.