Positive Trends in Mpox Cases Across Africa

In a significant turn of events, African nations have witnessed a notable decline in mpox cases over the past six weeks. This encouraging trend is attributed to enhanced public health measures, including the deployment of more community health workers dedicated to contact tracing and active surveillance. A statement from a top official at the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) highlighted these efforts during a recent briefing.

Staying Vigilant Amid Progress

Despite the positive trend, Yap Boum, deputy incident manager for the Africa CDC's mpox response, cautioned that the region must remain vigilant. The virus has recently emerged in new territories, such as Malawi, while 17 out of 24 countries continue to report ongoing transmission.

Burundi's Remarkable Recovery

One of the most remarkable recoveries is occurring in Burundi, traditionally a hot spot for mpox infections. Cases have plummeted from an alarming average of 200 per week to about 30. The improvements in response strategies, particularly with decentralized testing, promise to leave a lasting impact on the nation’s health infrastructure. Boum optimistically foresees a transformative future for the country: "Burundi will be a different country."

Progress in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), there are glimmers of hope despite significant challenges such as conflict and foreign aid cuts affecting testing rates. Efforts are underway to boost testing coverage, particularly in Kinshasa, where community health workers conduct door-to-door visits to identify cases early and facilitate vaccination.

More Vaccines on the Horizon

To bolster the fight against mpox, the DRC has already received 754,000 vaccine doses, with another 300,000 expected soon. However, the ongoing conflicts in North and South Kivu provinces complicate the situation, especially with other diseases like measles complicating the outbreak response.

Mixed Bag of Outcomes in Neighboring Countries

While Uganda is experiencing a hopeful decline in both mpox cases and deaths, Kenya faces an uptick in infections, particularly among truck drivers. In response, Kenya has launched an mpox vaccination campaign to curb the spread.

Malawi Faces New Challenges

Malawi's health ministry recently confirmed an mpox outbreak, initially reporting three cases that have since increased to four. Alarmingly, none of the affected individuals have traveled to outbreak areas, suggesting local transmission is occurring. Identified cases include a 2-year-old child among other males, with 34 contacts traced.

Innovative Testing Solutions Underway

In a bid to enhance detection capabilities, two rapid mpox tests are currently under evaluation at the DRC's National Institute for Biomedical Research. Quick and reliable testing could revolutionize the response, allowing for timely identification of cases and reducing further transmission. Boum expressed hope, stating, "This can be a changemaker in the response."