More than 22,800 cases and at least 622 deaths from mpox have been recorded in 13 African countries since January, Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), said during an online briefing news conference.
The number of infections has climbed by 200% in the previous week, he underlined.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is the epicenter of the mpox outbreak. Children and teenagers under the age of 15 are the most impacted.
In recent weeks, medical agencies have reported varying numbers of cases and fatalities from the infection because some agencies count only laboratory-confirmed cases of mpox, while others consider suspicious cases as well.
Mpox is a rare viral disease that can be particularly dangerous for individuals with weakened immune systems. The infection typically presents with fever, intoxication, swollen lymph nodes, and the development of a rash. Initially, the rash appears as spots, which then transform into vesicles. After the vesicles break, they form ulcers, which eventually crust over and heal, leaving scars. In mild cases, the disease usually resolves on its own and lasts between 14 and 21 days.