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Healthcare Alerts | Infectious Diseases | MPox
 
WHO to Assess Global Mpox Threat Amid Slowing Cases and Rising Vaccinations in Africa

Time to read: 01:36
Time to listen: 03:18
 
Published on MedED: 12 November 2024
Type of article: News
MedED Catalogue Reference: MNMP050
Category: News 
Category Cross-reference: Infectious Diseases, Global Health
Keywords: WHO, Mpox, DRC, vaccinations, Measles

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12 November  2024 13:30
 

The World Health Organization (WHO) is set to convene its Emergency Committee on  November 22nd,  to evaluate whether mpox continues to pose a global health crisis. While cases in Africa are still rising, the overall incidence of new infections appears to be declining. 
 
As of November 3, 49,794 confirmed and suspected cases have been reported, with 1,081 deaths reported in this current outbreak. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi, and Uganda remain the most severely affected countries, with rising cases recorded in Liberia, Kenya, and Uganda.
 
However, five of the 18 affected African countries, including South Africa, have not reported any new confirmed cases in the past four weeks. 
 
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has highlighted additional challenges in the DRC, particularly the co-infection of measles in children under 15 in two provinces. The low vaccination rates for measles are thought to be a contributing factor, and researchers are investigating the link between the two.
 
Globally, new cases of the mpox variant clade Ib have been detected beyond Africa. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported three cases, all linked to a patient who had recently travelled to affected regions in Africa. First identified in the DRC in April, clade Ib has since been reported in Germany, Sweden, India, and Thailand. This variant is believed to cause more severe illness than clade II, which predominantly spread in 2022 among men who have sex with men.
 
Improved testing and vaccine distribution are providing a hopeful outlook for controlling the outbreak. So far, 5.6 million doses of the mpox vaccine have been secured, including 2.57 million doses of Bavarian Nordic’s Jynneos and 3 million doses of Japan’s LC-16 vaccine.
 
Furthermore, CDC Africa is reporting that vaccination efforts have seen high acceptance, with campaigns already underway in Rwanda and three DRC provinces. The rollout in Kinshasa is set to begin soon, and Nigeria commenced its vaccination campaign 10 days ago. 

Access more articles related to Mpox

14 October 2024 | Zimbabwe and Zambia record thier first Mpox cases

5 October 2024 | DRC launches Mpox vaccination campaign as WHO approves new diagnostic test to boost global response

23 September 2024  India reports first case of mpox infection from clade 1b variant


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