The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has reported that Nigeria has yet to announce a start date for Mpox vaccinations, even as cases surge across Africa, marking a more than 500 per cent increase from last year.
Chief of staff at Africa CDC, Dr. Ngashi Ngongo provided this update during a weekly briefing on the outbreak.
Science Nigeria reports that the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Mpox a global public health emergency for the second consecutive year in August, following the spread of a new variant from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to neighbouring countries.
According to Ngongo, logistical challenges have delayed Nigeria’s vaccination efforts.
“The situation is not yet under control,” he said, stressing the urgent need for political and financial support to contain the outbreak and prevent Mpox from evolving into a widespread sexually transmitted pandemic.
The outbreak has now affected 19 countries, with Mauritius recently reporting its first case. Meanwhile, Nigeria continues to delay its planned vaccination campaign.
“The recent Mpox case in Mauritius was identified in a popular tourist area known for its stunning beaches and crystal-clear waters,” Ngongo said.
He added that while countries like the DRC and Rwanda have achieved 100 per cent vaccination rates, access to child-friendly vaccines remains a pressing issue. “Since January 2024, confirmed Mpox cases have surged by 500 per cent compared to 2023. Data indicate that Mpox has become a serious health concern, with over 48,000 suspected cases and 1,048 deaths reported across 19 African countries. Central Africa has been hardest hit, accounting for nearly 86 per cent of cases,” he said.
He noted that the new Mpox strain, clade Ib, has spread beyond the DRC to other regions, including Europe. “Cases are still increasing in several countries as the continent struggles to contain yet another major outbreak,” he warned.
Ngongo highlighted that the recent crisis follows the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed weaknesses in Africa’s health system. He stressed the urgent need for “sustained political and financial mobilisation” to prevent Mpox from becoming a pandemic on a scale “that could be much more severe than COVID-19.”
Mpox, a viral disease related to smallpox, causes fever, body aches, swollen lymph nodes and a blistering rash. The virus has two primary subtypes: clade 1 and clade 2.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom reported its first case of the latest Mpox variant, clade 1b, on Wednesday. This variant has also been detected in Sweden and Germany.
Central Africa, particularly the DRC, remains the epicentre of the outbreak, accounting for 85.7 per cent of cases and 99.5 per cent of deaths on the continent. Most fatalities have occurred in the DRC, which launched a vaccination campaign earlier this month.
