2024-08-13 16:14:48
AFP reports from Figaro
Published at 5:17 pm yesterday, updated at 6:14 pm yesterday
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Since January 2022, 16 African countries have recorded a total of 38,465 cases of the disease, formerly known as monkeypox.
L’african union health agency announced tuesday “Public Health Emergency”In the face of the increasingly serious MPOX epidemic on the African continent, its highest level of alert has been activated “A clear call to action” to prevent its spread. There are 38,465 cases of the disease, formerly known as MonkeypoxAccording to data released by health agencies last week, 16 African countries have recorded 1,456 deaths since January 2022, with the number of cases in 2024 increasing by 160% from the previous year Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“MPOX has now crossed borders, impacting thousands of people across our continent (…) It is with a heavy heart, but with an unwavering commitment to our people, to our African citizens, that we announce MPOX “Public health emergency” Jean Kasonya, president of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told a press conference.
“This statement is more than mere formality, but a clear call to action. It is our recognition that we can no longer be reactive. We must be proactive in our efforts to contain and eradicate this scourge.he added. The announcement will come on the eve of a meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO) emergency committee to assess whether it is necessary to declare the highest level of international health alert in the face of the disease.
New strain “Clade lb”
Africa is facing the spread of a new virus strain that is Democratic Republic of the Congo (Democratic Republic of Congo) Baptized in September 2023 «Clade Ib»deadlier and more easily spread than before. Cases have been recorded in many regions on the African continent (Morocco, Egypt, Sudan, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, etc.). According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus has a case fatality rate of over 3%, with children under 15 being the most affected, accounting for at least 60% of cases.
Mpox is a viral disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans, but can also be spread through close physical contact with an infected person. There «Clade Ib» Causes a systemic rash, whereas previous strains were characterized by localized rashes and lesions on the mouth, face, or genitals.
Mpox was first discovered in humans in 1970 in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), with the spread of the Clade I subtype (of which new variants are mutations) and has since been largely restricted to West and Central African countries, with patients Common contamination by infected animals.
In 2022, a global epidemic carried by the clade 2 subtype spread to approximately one hundred countries where the disease is not endemic, primarily affecting gay and bisexual men. Faced with this global outbreak of cases, the World Health Organization subsequently issued the highest alert in July 2022, and then lifted the highest alert less than a year later, in May 2023. About 140 people have died among the cases.
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