Africa’s Mpox Outbreaks Driven by Neglect, Experts Warn

Neglect and Emerging Challenges:

African scientists have raised alarms over the worsening Mpox outbreaks in Africa, which they attribute to decades of global neglect and the failure to stop sporadic epidemics in regions with minimal immunity against the smallpox-related disease. According to Dr. Dimie Ogoina, who chairs the WHO’s Mpox emergency committee, this negligence has facilitated the emergence of a new, more transmissible strain of the virus, primarily affecting populations with limited resources to combat the disease.

Key Points:

• Transmission and Impact:
  • Unlike the 2022 global outbreak, which primarily affected gay and bisexual men, the current Mpox spread in Africa involves sexual transmission and close contact among children, pregnant women, and other vulnerable groups.
  • Africa's predominantly young population, which has not been vaccinated against smallpox, remains highly susceptible to Mpox.
• Disease Characteristics:
  • Mpox is a member of the smallpox virus family, causing milder symptoms like fever and body aches, but it can lead to severe blisters on the face, hands, chest, and genitals in more serious cases.
  • The disease primarily spreads through close skin-to-skin contact, including sexual contact.

WHO's Global Emergency Declaration:

• Surge in Cases:
  • Earlier this month, the WHO declared the surging Mpox outbreaks in Congo and 11 other African countries as a global emergency.
  • The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported over 22,800 Mpox cases and 622 deaths across the continent, with the majority occurring in Congo, where infections have jumped 200% in the past week.
• Challenges in Diagnosis and Monitoring:
  • Dr. Placide Mbala-Kingebeni, a Congolese scientist, highlighted difficulties in detecting the new Mpox variant with existing diagnostic tests, complicating efforts to track its spread.
  • Research published by Mbala-Kingebeni indicates that this new form of Mpox may be more transmissible but less deadly, though the lack of adequate testing infrastructure in Congo and other countries hampers monitoring.

Vaccine Shortages and Global Response:

• Vaccine Supply Issues:
  • The WHO has indicated that Africa needs about 10 million vaccine doses but may only receive 500,000, with no clear timeline for delivery.
  • Spain has pledged to donate 20% of its Mpox vaccine stockpile to Africa, amounting to 500,000 doses—more than the EU, U.S., and Bavarian Nordic have collectively promised.
• Urgent Call for Action:
  • African health experts emphasize the need for immediate supportive care, including adequate nutrition and mental health support for patients, given the stigma associated with Mpox.
  • Strategies used to combat Ebola, such as ring vaccination around identified cases, may help target outbreak hotspots effectively.

Conclusion:

The ongoing Mpox outbreaks in Africa underscore the dire consequences of long-term neglect and inadequate global response. As the international community grapples with this crisis, it is imperative to provide immediate support to African nations to curb the spread of Mpox and protect vulnerable populations from further harm.