13 Dec 2022 | 02:00 PM UTC
Sub-Saharan Africa: Officials report confirmed mpox cases in multiple countries in December /update 2
Confirmed mpox cases in multiple countries in sub-Saharan Africa in December. Low risk of transmission. Use basic health precautions.
Event
Health officials have identified 982 monkeypox (mpox) cases in multiple Sub-Saharan African countries June 8-Dec. 12. Nigeria is the most affected country reporting 624 cases, followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo (206 cases) and Ghana (107 cases). Additional countries reporting cases are Benin, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Liberia, Mozambique, South Africa, and Sudan. As disease surveillance and contact tracing continue, officials may identify additional cases in the coming weeks. This represents the most updated data as of Dec. 13.
Context
The first confirmed cases of mpox in a Sub-Saharan African country, where the disease is not endemic, was reported in South Africa on June 23. These cases are associated with the widespread outbreak of mpox reported by individuals who attended one or more mass gatherings in May located in Antwerp, Belgium, as well as Madrid and Gran Canaria in Spain, or reported recent close contact with an attendee. Mass gatherings always present an elevated risk of infectious disease transmission. Human-to-human transmission occurs among people in close physical contact, with the increase in recent cases linked to sexual contact suggesting that the virus linked to the disease can be sexually transmitted. The current outbreak highlights the importance of vigilant safe sexual practices and suggests mpox can be transmitted while the infected person displays few or no symptoms; however, the risk is currently assessed as low for individuals not routinely engaging with multiple or anonymous sexual partners.
Most mpox cases in Africa are reported in west and central Africa, primarily in the DRC, Nigeria, and Cameroon, among individuals who report contact with wild primates or other mammals which may harbor the disease.
Mpox is caused by a virus belonging to the same family as the one that causes smallpox. However, mpox is not the same as smallpox and does not have the same capacity for rapid human-to-human transmission. Mpox is mainly transmitted to humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected rodents or primates. Human-to-human transmission primarily occurs through close personal contact with an infected individual via respiratory droplets, direct contact with bodily fluids, or indirect contact with lesion material (e.g., contaminated clothing or bedding). Symptoms typically appear 6-16 days after exposure but can develop up to 21 days after exposure. Symptoms generally include fever, headache, muscle aches and backaches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and a distinctive rash characterized by lesions that progress through several stages before falling off.
Advice
Practice basic health precautions, including frequent handwashing with soap and water, covering the nose and mouth when coughing, and avoiding obviously ill individuals. Avoid overcrowded areas, such as nightclubs, and consider using safe sexual practices, such as physical barriers (condoms), in countries reporting mpox transmission. Seek medical attention if symptoms develop within two weeks of being in affected areas. Vaccines are available but limited.
