The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Burundi as the countries most affected by the current Mpox outbreak in Africa.
According to the latest WHO report on the foreign situation of several countries, the Democratic Republic of Congo tops the list with 30,766 suspected cases, 5,610 confirmed cases and 25 deaths, followed by Burundi with 2,188 suspected cases, 853 confirmed cases and no reported deaths. .
Data from January 1 to September 29 shows Nigeria in third place with 78 confirmed cases and no deaths.
Meanwhile, for the same period, data from the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) shows that the country has recorded 1,237 suspected cases and 84 confirmed cases in 57 local government areas (LGAs) in 25 states and the FCT.
Focus on the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The latest WHO report provides a detailed subnational focus on North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where 34 percent of confirmed cases reported are people living in camps for internally displaced people (IDPs), and Approximately 75 percent of Mpox cases are among children. minors under 17 years of age.
Currently, WHO noted that available case investigation and sequencing data suggest that Mpox transmission in this province is exclusively person-to-person.
He added that sexual contact is an important mode of transmission, accounting for 34 percent of cases, of which 52 percent involve sex workers.
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To combat the outbreak, WHO approved the Alinity m MPXV diagnostic test for emergency use, adding that 265,000 doses of MVA-BN vaccines have been sent to strategic centers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Situation in Nigeria
The age and sex distribution in the latest NCDC status report shows that children under five years of age are the most affected by the disease, followed by the age groups of 26-30, 41-45 and 46-50.
The NCDC established that 68 percent of cases in 2024 were reported in men.
Ogun, Lagos and Bayelsa states top the list with the highest number of suspected Mpox cases, while Plateau, Enugu and Akwa Ibom states top the list of confirmed cases.
The WHO rated the outbreak as moderate in Nigeria and other countries in West, Central and East Africa where Mpox is endemic.