The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control has raised alarms over the continued spread of monkeypox in the region.
According to the Centre’s report, as of the end of Epi Week 33 in 2024, there have been 44 confirmed cases and one death across several West African countries.
The report, which was released on Friday and made available to journalists on Saturday, August 17, 2024, highlighted that Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Ghana are the hardest-hit countries within ECOWAS.
“Mpox, or monkeypox, is a zoonotic viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus, part of the Orthopoxvirus genus,” the report explained.
Although the symptoms of monkeypox are similar to smallpox, it is generally less severe. The virus spreads from animals to humans through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or lesions of infected animals. Human-to-human transmission occurs through respiratory droplets, contact with infected body fluids, or exposure to contaminated objects.
The Centre revealed, “As of August 15, 2024, the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control continues to monitor the Mpox situation in the ECOWAS region, as well as on a continental and global level. As of Epi Week 33, a total of 44 confirmed cases and one death have been reported in the ECOWAS region since the beginning of the year; Nigeria (24), Côte d’Ivoire (11), Liberia (5), and Ghana (4).”
The report also noted the ongoing challenges faced by the African continent in controlling the spread of monkeypox. With 37,583 cases and 1,451 deaths reported this year across Africa, the continent is grappling with what is being described as a massive public health emergency.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been identified as the epicenter of the crisis, accounting for 96.3 percent of all cases and 97 percent of deaths continent-wide in 2024 alone.
The first half of 2024 saw an explosive rise in infections, with 14,250 Mpox cases and 456 deaths, representing a 160 percent increase in cases and a 19 percent jump in fatalities compared to the same period last year. The DRC’s case fatality rate stands at 3.2 percent, underscoring the severity of the outbreak.
“In the first half of 2024, the continent saw 14,250 Mpox cases, including 2,745 confirmed cases and 456 deaths, representing a significant increase in both cases and deaths compared to the same period in 2023. The case fatality rate stands at 3.2 percent for 2024, with the highest burden in the DRC,” the report added.
June 2024 alone saw 567 new cases reported in the African region, underscoring the relentless spread of the virus. The Centre stressed, “June 2024 saw a global continuation of Mpox transmission, with 567 new cases reported from the African Region, further underscoring the ongoing public health emergency.”
The ECOWAS Regional Centre has called for an immediate scaling up of response efforts, stressing the need for urgent public awareness campaigns to educate communities about prevention and symptoms.
“We recommend strengthened surveillance systems to promptly detect and respond to monkeypox cases. Timely reporting and robust case management are critical in mitigating the spread of the virus.”
The Centre also emphasized the importance of cross-border cooperation in tackling the outbreak.
“Given the cross-border nature of disease transmission, we strongly encourage enhanced cooperation among neighbouring countries. Coordinated efforts in surveillance, data sharing, and joint outbreak response will be instrumental in containing the spread of monkeypox across borders,” the Centre advised.
Recently, the Africa Centre for Disease Control declared monkeypox a “public health emergency of continental security” as the virus continues to spread across several countries.
