Africa CDC reports alarming rise in Mpox cases, Sierra Leone at epicenter

AFRICA— The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has reported a significant and ongoing public health challenge due to Mpox outbreaks across the continent.

Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, who leads the Incident Management Support Team at Africa CDC, revealed that approximately 141,000 suspected Mpox cases have been recorded, with over 35,000 confirmed through testing.

The majority of confirmed cases, about 94%, are concentrated in just four countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Sierra Leone, and Burundi.

Sierra Leone, in particular, has been severely affected, reporting 4,032 cases with 3,140 confirmed and 15 deaths.

This represents a concerning 53% of all newly confirmed Mpox cases on the continent over the past three weeks, highlighting the urgent need for targeted intervention in the country.

In response to the escalating situation, Africa CDC had initiated a significant vaccine distribution effort, releasing 2.5 million doses to the continent.

To date, 11 countries have received these vaccines, and seven are actively implementing vaccination programs.

The broader goal is to distribute a total of 6.4 million doses to effectively control and ultimately eradicate Mpox in Africa.

Currently, 500,000 doses are ready for immediate distribution, with priority given to the most severely affected countries.

Sierra Leone is slated to receive 50,000 of these vaccine doses, which will be used for post-exposure vaccination to prevent further transmission.

In addition to vaccine supplies, Africa CDC plans to dispatch technical experts to Sierra Leone.

These experts will assist in strengthening the country’s surveillance systems and incident management capabilities, crucial for promptly tracking and responding to new cases.

Despite these significant efforts, Mpox cases continue to rise in several parts of Africa.

Dr. Ngongo emphasized the critical need for African governments and global health partners to intensify their collective efforts.

This includes increasing vaccination coverage, enhancing disease surveillance, and boosting public awareness to prevent further spread of the virus.

The ongoing Mpox outbreak remains a pressing public health concern, demanding coordinated action and sustained commitment to protect communities and mitigate the disease’s impact across the continent.

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