Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is an incredibly contagious disease. Mpox can be spread through contact with dead or live wild animals, contact with an infected person and through sexual activities. The symptoms include skin rashes, fever and swollen lymph nodes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there was already an outbreak from 2022 to 2023 caused by a specific strain of the disease. However, it is still a prominent threat in 2024. There’s recently been a peak of cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A report from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention found that there are over 27,000 cases of mpox and over 1,000 deaths. Despite the prominence of the disease in the DRC, the global community appears to be focusing on cases in Europe and the West. The Africa CDC has found that alongside the DRC, other African countries have been reported to have cases of mpox; Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Liberia, Morocco, Mozambique, Sudan and South Africa.
Despite the alarming number of cases in the DRC, mpox has not spread widely in other East African countries. This is due mainly to strong efforts from both the government and communities in these nations to contain the disease. Public health infrastructure has been a top priority for many East African nations and there have been many efforts at improving the access and quality of healthcare in these nations. According to the Research on Poverty Alleviation Organization (REPOA), public health infrastructure in countries like Tanzania has been steadily improving. Survey responses from Tanzanian civilians rated that health centers have improved by over 70% and district hospitals by 85%. Additionally, due to the communities’ experience with viral diseases like ebola and COVID-19, there have been many community awareness campaigns to educate the public on the importance of hygiene and disease prevention, to prevent another widespread outbreak.
The global outbreak has prompted the fast development and distribution of a vaccine for pox. However, the majority of the doses have not been sent to highly infected countries, and are instead going to wealthier countries, mainly in Europe which now have a stockpile of vaccines, while the DRC and other affected African countries have barely any according to a report from France 24. The WHO’s declaration of mpox as a public health emergency of international concern has led to demands for increased funding to fight the outbreak. However, some argue that this action comes too late for Africa, where the disease has been endemic for decades. The earliest reports of Mpox in humans was in 1970 in the DRC and since then the disease has primarily affected Central Africa. However, some countries with a large stock such as Spain have guaranteed that they will be donating doses to the DRC. Spain pledged 500,000 doses, France and Germany both guaranteed 100,000 each, and the United States said it would donate 100,000 doses. However, none of these doses have been delivered to the DRC, according to the Guardian.
The limited access to treatments and inadequate funding for public health programs have diminished the region’s ability to effectively manage the disease. The Mpox outbreak in central Africa serves as a critical reminder of the ongoing health challenges faced by the region. While the global community has focused on outbreaks elsewhere, it is crucial to address the needs of those most affected in Africa.
Written by Dorine Benedict
