The ECOWAS Regional Center for Disease Surveillance and Control (CRSCM-ECOWAS) has raised alarms over a concerning resurgence of MPOX known as monkey pox in the sub region.
According to a recent report, 44 confirmed cases, including one death, have been recorded since the beginning of the year. Nigeria is the hardest-hit country with 24 cases, followed by Côte d’Ivoire with 11 cases, Liberia with 5 cases, and Ghana with 4 cases.
On a continental scale, the situation is even more alarming. The CRSCM-ECOWAS reports a total of 37,583 cases and 1,451 deaths across 15 African Union Member States since the start of 2024, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) being the most severely affected, accounting for 96.3% of the cases and 97% of the deaths.
The report highlights a significant increase compared to the previous year, stating: “During the first half of 2024, the continent recorded 14,250 cases of MPOX, including 2,745 confirmed cases and 456 deaths, representing a 160% increase in cases and a 19% increase in deaths compared to the same period in 2023.”
In light of the situation, CRSCM-ECOWAS is calling for urgent action. Key recommendations include strengthening public awareness, improving health surveillance and response capabilities, enhancing cross-border collaboration, and intensifying the training of health personnel.
The report also cautions about the possibility of underreporting cases and encourages countries to bolster their surveillance and reporting efforts to better manage the outbreak.
Report by Tofik Abdul Nasir