Monkeypox Outbreak Continues to Spread in Africa

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Monkeypox Outbreak Continues to Spread in Africa: Growing Concerns Over Infections Among Children and Adolescents

Monkeypox Outbreak Continues to Spread in Africa: Growing Concerns Over Infections Among Children and Adolescents

In recent months, various global events have dominated headlines, and while the monkeypox outbreak was a major focus of global attention last month, it seems to have faded from public discourse. However, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) issued a warning on Thursday, stating that the monkeypox epidemic in Africa remains uncontrolled, with a rapid rise in cases in several countries.

Monkeypox Outbreak Continues to Spread in Africa: Growing Concerns Over Infections Among Children and Adolescents

According to Africa CDC data, monkeypox cases in Africa have surged by 177% compared to the same period last year, and the number of deaths has increased by 38.5%.

During a Thursday briefing, Africa CDC Director Jean Kaseya remarked, “We can say today that monkeypox is not yet under control in Africa. Some countries are still experiencing sharp increases in cases, which is a cause for concern for all of us.”

In the past week alone, 2,912 new cases were reported, showing an increase from the previous week. Morocco also reported a confirmed case of monkeypox, the first since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared monkeypox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in August.

Since the outbreak began in January, Africa has recorded nearly 25,100 cases and more than 720 deaths, with the highest number of cases reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Africa CDC noted that 15 of the 55 African Union member states have reported monkeypox cases. “People are still dying from the monkeypox virus in Africa. In the past week, we lost 14 lives,” Kaseya said.

He added that two variants of the virus are circulating in countries such as Cameroon and Congo, but due to limited monitoring and testing capabilities, it’s unclear whether other nations are affected by the same variants. Rwanda has begun a vaccination campaign, while Congo, the epicenter of the outbreak, plans to start vaccinations in early October.

Frans Bassagne, a UNICEF representative in Burundi, expressed concern over the increasing number of cases among children under five. Currently, children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 account for 33% of all infections, raising alarm.

In East and Southern Africa, the monkeypox outbreak continues to spread, with children and adolescents facing the highest risks.

Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease that can spread between animals and humans. Early symptoms in humans include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, and swollen lymph nodes, followed by a rash that spreads across the face and body. While most people recover within a few weeks, some cases can become severe or even fatal.

Since the beginning of this year, the more contagious and deadly Ib variant of monkeypox has drawn global attention due to its ease of transmission through close contact. Another variant, Ia, is particularly prone to infecting children and adolescents.

According to the Africa CDC, the continent needs approximately 10 million doses of vaccines to control the outbreak, but logistical challenges and vaccine shortages make this a difficult goal to achieve.

On Thursday, the European Medicines Agency approved Bavarian Nordic’s monkeypox vaccine for use in adolescents aged 12 to 17 to support Africa’s efforts to fight the epidemic.

Bavarian Nordic’s Jynneos vaccine has also been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), though it is currently only available for adults aged 18 and older.

Last week, the WHO granted an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Bavarian Nordic’s monkeypox vaccine, making it the first vaccine to receive WHO approval for combating the monkeypox outbreak, aiming to accelerate vaccination efforts.