Neglect and Global Incompetence Fuel Africa's Mpox Outbreaks: Experts

In a recent virtual news conference, African scientists shed light on the escalating mpox outbreaks across Africa, attributing them to decades of neglect and the world's inability to contain sporadic epidemics in resource-limited regions. Dr. Dimie Ogoina, chair of WHO's mpox emergency committee, pointed out that negligence led to the emergence of a new, highly transmissible version of the virus in these countries. Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, had been spreading covertly for years in Nigeria and other African nations before the 2022 global outbreak. According to Dr. Ogoina, the current African mpox outbreak differs from the 2022 global one, which primarily affected gay and bisexual men. In Africa, mpox is now being transmitted through sexual contact and close proximity among children, pregnant women, and other vulnerable groups. The majority of people over 50 have likely been vaccinated against smallpox, providing some protection against mpox. However, Africa's younger population, which is mostly susceptible, has not received smallpox vaccinations. Mpox, a member of the smallpox virus family, causes milder symptoms such as fever, chills, and body aches. It primarily spreads through close skin-to-skin contact, including sexual contact. Severe cases can result in prominent blisters on the face, hands, chest, and genitals. WHO declared the surging mpox outbreaks in Congo and 11 other African countries a global emergency earlier this month. Out of a total of 18,910 cases in 2024, 94%—or 17,794—were in Congo, with 535 of the 541 deaths reported last week. Nearly 70% of mpox infections in Congo are in children under 15.

Dr. Placide Mbala-Kingebeni, a Congolese scientist who helped identify the newest version of mpox, mentioned that diagnostic tests being used in the country do not always detect the new variant, making it difficult to track its spread. The new form of mpox has been found in four other African countries and Sweden, where health officials identified the first case of a person with the more infectious form of mpox this month. The individual had been infected during a stay in Africa. WHO stated that available data does not currently suggest that the new form of mpox is more dangerous, but research is ongoing. Marion Koopmans, a virologist at Erasmus Medical Centre in the Netherlands, noted that pregnant women are experiencing miscarriages or losing their fetuses and that some babies are being born with mpox, leading to severe outcomes. In the absence of vaccines and drugs, African health workers should focus on providing supportive care, such as ensuring patients have enough to eat and receive mental health support due to the stigma associated with mpox. Dr. Ogoina emphasized the need for therapeutics, stating, 'It's very, very unfortunate that we have had mpox for 54 years and we are only now thinking about therapeutics.' Mbala-Kingebeni suggested that strategies used to stop Ebola outbreaks in Africa might be helpful, considering the limited number of vaccine doses expected. He estimated that Africa needs about 10 million doses but might only receive around 500,000, with unclear delivery timelines. On Tuesday, WHO issued an appeal for $87.4 million for the next six months to combat the spread of mpox, stating that past fundraising efforts for mpox did not receive any donor dollars.

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