More than 1,500 laboratory-confirmed cases of mpox have been identified in Africa since December 1 last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported.
The incidence rate is particularly high in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The WHO also noted that 12 African countries have reported cases of mpox in the past six weeks, emphasizing that these are active outbreaks of the disease in these countries.
According to a WHO bulletin, from January 1, 2024, to January 5, 2025, Africa recorded 14,700 confirmed cases of mpox and 66 deaths, which is 1,529 more cases and 9 more deaths than as of December 1. In the DRC, 2,464 people have fallen ill since November 25 of last year, 798 in Burundi, 767 in Uganda, 17 in Rwanda, and 12 in Kenya.
From January 1, 2022, to November 30, 2024, there were 117,663 confirmed mpox cases, including 263 fatalities, reported in 127 countries worldwide.
A global health emergency for this disease was initially in effect from July 2022 to May 11, 2023. It was lifted due to declining cases, but on August 14, 2024, the head of the WHO reinstated the emergency due to the outbreak in Africa.