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Africa sees 160% rise in ampox cases; Here’s what you should know about this infectious disease
The Africa CDC said a total of 37,583 monkeypox cases and 1,451 deaths have been reported from 15 African Union (AU) members from the beginning of 2022 to July 28, 2024, with a case fatality rate of 3.9 percent. Read on to know more about monkeypox, its symptoms and prevention.
Africa sees rise in ampox cases to 160
According to a report by news agency Xinhua, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has revealed that more than 1,400 monkeypox-related deaths have occurred in 15 African countries since the beginning of 2022. In its latest continental monkeypox (monkeypox) situation report, the Africa CDC said a total of 37,583 monkeypox cases and 1,451 deaths have been reported from 15 African Union (AU) members from the beginning of 2022 to July 28, 2024, with a case fatality rate of 3.9 per cent.
According to the AU’s specialized health agency, a total of 14,250 mpox cases and 456 deaths have been reported from 10 African countries since the beginning of this year to July 28, with a case fatality rate of 3.2 percent. Africa CDC data shows that the number of new mpox cases and deaths recorded so far this year represents an increase of 160 percent and 19 percent, respectively, compared to the same period in 2023.
The 10 African countries that reported cases of ampox this year are Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa. The DRC recorded about 96.3 percent of all cases and 97 percent of all deaths this year.
Ampox, also known as monkeypox, is a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It is a zoonotic disease and hence can spread from animals to humans. It was first discovered in monkeys and hence the name monkeypox.
Symptoms of Ampox
After being infected with the virus, it can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks for symptoms to appear. Here, take a look at some of the signs and symptoms of monkeypox.
- Fever
- swollen lymph nodes
- Muscle pain
- rash
- Feeling cold
- Headache
- Tiredness
The rash usually appears as flat and red bumps, but they can be painful. These eventually turn into pus-filled blisters. You may also notice sores on your mouth, face, hands, feet, penis, vagina, or anus.
Ampox usually causes a painful rash, swollen lymph nodes and fever. Although most people recover from the condition, some can become very ill. The virus spreads from person to person through touch, kissing or sex. From animals, however, it is usually spread by hunting, skinning or cooking them. It can also be spread through contaminated sheets, clothing or needles, and from infected pregnant mothers to their unborn babies.
Measures to prevent ampox
Vaccination is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of monkeypox. If you think you are at increased risk of getting monkeypox, you should consider getting vaccinated as this helps prevent the spread. Other ways to prevent the spread of diseases include reducing human contact with infected animals and reducing person-to-person spread.
(with inputs from agencies)
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