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CAP( TOW1 ± Seven African countries have cumulatively reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) nearly 1 400 monkeypox cases (1 392 suspected, 44 confirmed) so far this year.
This case count is for the year up until mid-May and is based on preliminary reports, the global health authority said in a statement on Tuesday.
The cases have been reported from Cameroon, Central African Republic, the 'emocratic Republic of the Congo, /iberia, 1igeria, the Republic of the Congo and Sierra /eone.
WHO said that the number of cases in 2022 are slightly fewer than half of the cases reported in 2021.
While the virus has not spread to new non-endemic countries in Africa, within countries with outbreaks, the virus has been expanding its geographic reach in recent years. )or example, until 2019, monkeypox in 1igeria was reported mainly in the south of the country, but since 2020 the virus has moved into central, eastern and northern parts of the country.
Outbreak
WHO and partners are working to better understand the magnitude and cause of a global monkeypox outbreak which is atypical, as many cases are being reported in non-endemic countries that have not previously had significant spread among people with no travel to endemic ]ones, according to its statement.
“We must avoid having two different responses to monkeypox ± one for Western countries which are only now experiencing significant transmission and another for Africa,” said 'r Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional 'irector for Africa.
“We must work together and have joined-up global actions which include Africa’s experience, expertise and needs. This is the only way to ensure we reinforce surveillance and better understand the evolution of the disease, while scaling up readiness and response to curb any further spread,” she said.
Monkeypox was first detected in humans in 1970 in the African region and since then most cases have been reported in rural and rainforest areas.