Skin lesions that are characteristic of mpox are seen on a young patient at Kavumu hospital in South Kivu province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on August 30, 2024. Photo Credit: WHO
Geneva/Kigali (Rwanda): The epidemiological situation of mpox in Africa remains concerning, with high case counts driven by the outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Burundi, and Uganda, according to the 44th situation report for the multi-country outbreak of mpox, published by the World Health Organization today.
Globally, 2726 new confirmed mpox cases were reported in November 2024, the last month for which complete global surveillance data are available, the report revealed.
Clade Ib monkeypox virus (MPXV) is mostly affecting non-endemic areas for mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring countries, where mpox is spreading mainly through human-to-human close physical contact, including sexual contact. It has been detected in eight provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: South Kivu, North Kivu, Kinshasa, Kasai, Tshopo, Tanganyika. Haut-Katanga, and Mai’Ndombe. This represents an increase of two provinces (Haut-Katanga and Mai’Ndombe) since the previous edition of this situation report.
Clade Ib MPXV has so far been detected besides DRC, in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe in Africa.
Eight countries outside of Africa have also been detected clade Ib MPXV. Sweden, Thailand, Germany, the United States of America and Canada have each detected a single case among travellers from the affected countries in East and Central Africa. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has detected five cases: two cases among travellers from affected countries in East Africa and three household contacts of one of these travellers. India and Pakistan have each detected a single case among travellers from the United Arab Emirates. No case of mpox due to clade Ib MPXV has been reported by the United Arab Emirates so far. Media reports of further cases in some of these countries are under verification.
The international spread of clade Ib MPXV is predominantly linked to sexual contact. Geographical expansion of clade Ib MPXV continues to be reported outside the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with Pakistan reporting its first recorded case of mpox due to clade Ib MPXV. In addition, the Sultanate of Oman reported its first recorded case of mpox due to clade I MPXV. The information on the MPXV subclade is not yet available, according to the report.
Outside Africa, a high number of confirmed cases was reported from Australia in November 2024. The country has been experiencing an unprecedented outbreak of clade IIb MPXV, affecting mainly men who have sex with men exposed primarily through sexual contact. In recent months though, there have been early indications of a plateau in monthly reported cases. In Africa, countries in the west, north and south have reported clade II MPXV, and Cameroon has reported both clades – clade I MPXV in the eastern part of the country and clade II MPXV in the west.
Meanwhile, as no new cases were reported over the last 42 days after the last patient tested negative for the virus twice, the government declared over, the outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease in Rwanda, in Kigali today.
The outbreak, confirmed on September 27, 2024, was the first Marburg Virus Disease outbreak Rwanda has experienced. A total of 66 confirmed cases and 15 deaths were recorded. Almost 80% of the cases were among health workers, who were infected while providing clinical care to their colleagues and other patients.
– global bihari bureau
