Health

Mpox In Congo Rises As More Than 1,000 Cases Reported In A Week

Mpox In Congo Rises As More Than 1,000 Cases Reported - GlobalCurrent24.com

Mpox In Congo Rises As More Than 1,000 Cases Reported In A Week After The World Health Organization (WHO) Declared The Outbreak Of The Disease As A Global Emergency.

Congo, a country in Central Africa, has reported than 1,000 new monkeypox (mpox) cases in the past week. From last week till this past Tuesday, the country has seen a rise in the cases, which is a growing threat to them and the continent. Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the disease outbreaks as a global emergency.

The monkeypox (mpox) disease belongs to the same virus family as smallpox. With mpox, it causes mild fever, and body chills, and can be spread through person-to-person skin contact, with intercourse inclusive. For a more severe case, the victim might spot lesions all over the body, including the genitals.

The disease has been reported in 12 African countries as of now. Congo, by far, has reported the most cases in Africa this year. A total of 18,910 cases have been reported in 2024 with 17,794 cases in Congo which is around 94%. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 541 death have been reported.

According to Dr. Jean Kaseya, the CDC director general for Africa, numerous affected African areas have limited testing capabilities, hence, the rise in the cases. For the last seven days, Congo has recorded a massive increase in the case. 1,030 cases were confirmed to be mpox out of the 1,405 new cases. The rest also indicates symptoms of the disease, according to the CDC African director.

The rise in the mpox cases in Congo and in Africa can spread easily throughout the continent if effect measures are not put in place. According to Dr, Kaseya, the CDC received a pledge of 215,000 mpox vaccines from the European Union (EU) and Bavarian Nordic (vaccine maker). The vaccines are set to arrive in the next few days. According to the Japanese media, dozens of the vaccine have been donated to Congo.

The United States aid agency had also donated about 50,000 doses of the vaccine to Congo. According to the health minister of Congo, the country needs about 3 million doses of the vaccine in order to end the outbreak.