ECOWAS Disease Control Calls For Vigilance Over Worsening Mpox Outbreak In Nigeria, Ghana, Others
The hardest-hit countries include Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Ghana, which are facing the brunt of the outbreak.
The ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control has raised alarms over the continued spread of monkeypox within the region, confirming 44 cases and one death by the end of Epidemiological Week 33, 2024.
The hardest-hit countries include Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Ghana, which are facing the brunt of the outbreak.
The announcement was made in a statement released by the Centre on Friday and made available to journalists on Saturday.
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is a zoonotic viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus, a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus. Although it shares similarities with smallpox, Mpox is generally less severe.
The virus is transmitted from animals to humans through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or skin lesions of infected animals.
Human-to-human transmission occurs through respiratory droplets, direct contact with infected body fluids, or exposure to contaminated objects.
As of August 15, 2024, the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control continues to monitor the Mpox situation within the ECOWAS region, as well as on the continental and global levels.
“As at 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), Cote d’Ivoire (11), Liberia (5) and Ghana (4),” the report revealed.
The African continent continues to face significant challenges in controlling the spread of Mpox, with a sharp rise in cases and fatalities since the start of 2024.
“So far this year, 37,583 cases and 1,451 deaths have been reported across 15 African Union Member States. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the hardest hit, accounting for 96.3 per cent of all cases and 97 per cent of deaths in 2024.
“During the first half of 2024, the continent recorded 14,250 Mpox cases, including 2,745 confirmed cases, and 456 deaths, marking a 160 per cent increase in cases and a 19 per cent rise in fatalities compared to the same period in 2023.
The case fatality rate for 2024 stands at 3.2 per cent, with the DRC bearing the highest burden.
In June 2024 alone, 567 new cases were reported in the African region, highlighting the relentless spread of the virus.
The Regional Centre emphasized the need for an immediate scaling up of response efforts, including 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.
“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 statement said.
