WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
Week 2: 2 to 8 January 2023
Data as reported by: 17:00; 8 January 2023
...
Mpox (Monkeypox) Multiple Countries
1 226 cases
16 Deaths
1.3% CFR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
Two newly confirmed Monkeypox cases were retrospectively
reported in Africa in the past week. These cases were parts of
the samples collected in December 2022 and were recorded for
week 52 (26 Dec 2022 – 01 Jan 2023). No new cases have been
confirmed in the first week of 2023.
Between 1 January 2022 and 7 January 2023, 1 126 laboratory
confirmed cases have been reported from 13 African countries,
including Nigeria (756), the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(279), Ghana (116), Sudan (18), Cameroon (18), CAR (13),
Liberia (6), Congo (5), South Africa (5), Benin Republic (3),
Morocco (3), Egypt (1), and Mozambique (1).
The top three countries with the highest number of confirmed
cases of Mpox are Nigeria (61.7%; 756), DRC (22.8%; 279), and
Ghana (9.5%; 116). Together, the three countries account for
93.9% (1 151) of all confirmed cases in Africa.
Eight countries: Benin, Cameroon, CAR, Congo, Morocco,
Mozambique, South Africa, and Sudan, have not reported any
new cases in the past six weeks, and Liberia has not reported
in 21 days. The average age of Monkeypox cases reported in
Africa is 22.4 years, ranging from 0-87 years, and the majority
are males (60.2%). Sixteen deaths were reported in the continent
in 2022 from Nigeria (7), Ghana (4), Cameroon (3), Mozambique
(1), and Sudan (1).
Country specific updates
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of the
countries with high MPX burdens in Africa. The country has
reported 259 confirmed cases since January 2022. Monkeypox
poses complex challenges to the country as (89%) 23/26
provinces are being affected. However, the World Health
Organization (WHO) and other international organizations have
been working to control the spread of Monkeypox in the DRC and
other affected countries. These include improving surveillance
and diagnostic capacity, educating the public about the disease
and how to prevent it, and identifying and isolating infected
individuals to prevent further transmission.
SITUATION INTERPRETATION
Countries are using the new WHO’s technical surveillance
guidelines and reporting tools to facilitate case detection,
reporting, case investigations, contact tracing, and followup.
Mpox signal detection and verification are being enhanced
through proactive information and data gathering system
using the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources.
WHO is supporting affected countries to improve surveillance
and laboratory capacity, including genomic surveillance.
WHO supports countries with vaccination strategies and
guidelines towards identifying high-risk and priority groups
for vaccination.
SITUATION INTERPRETATION
Two newly confirmed mpox cases were reported from the
Democratic Republic of the Congo in the past week, with no
death. WHO AFRO supports countries on mpox surveillance and
response through the provision of funds and mpox vaccines.
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
Week 2: 2 to 8 January 2023
Data as reported by: 17:00; 8 January 2023
...
Mpox (Monkeypox) Multiple Countries
1 226 cases
16 Deaths
1.3% CFR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
Two newly confirmed Monkeypox cases were retrospectively
reported in Africa in the past week. These cases were parts of
the samples collected in December 2022 and were recorded for
week 52 (26 Dec 2022 – 01 Jan 2023). No new cases have been
confirmed in the first week of 2023.
Between 1 January 2022 and 7 January 2023, 1 126 laboratory
confirmed cases have been reported from 13 African countries,
including Nigeria (756), the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(279), Ghana (116), Sudan (18), Cameroon (18), CAR (13),
Liberia (6), Congo (5), South Africa (5), Benin Republic (3),
Morocco (3), Egypt (1), and Mozambique (1).
The top three countries with the highest number of confirmed
cases of Mpox are Nigeria (61.7%; 756), DRC (22.8%; 279), and
Ghana (9.5%; 116). Together, the three countries account for
93.9% (1 151) of all confirmed cases in Africa.
Eight countries: Benin, Cameroon, CAR, Congo, Morocco,
Mozambique, South Africa, and Sudan, have not reported any
new cases in the past six weeks, and Liberia has not reported
in 21 days. The average age of Monkeypox cases reported in
Africa is 22.4 years, ranging from 0-87 years, and the majority
are males (60.2%). Sixteen deaths were reported in the continent
in 2022 from Nigeria (7), Ghana (4), Cameroon (3), Mozambique
(1), and Sudan (1).
Country specific updates
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of the
countries with high MPX burdens in Africa. The country has
reported 259 confirmed cases since January 2022. Monkeypox
poses complex challenges to the country as (89%) 23/26
provinces are being affected. However, the World Health
Organization (WHO) and other international organizations have
been working to control the spread of Monkeypox in the DRC and
other affected countries. These include improving surveillance
and diagnostic capacity, educating the public about the disease
and how to prevent it, and identifying and isolating infected
individuals to prevent further transmission.
SITUATION INTERPRETATION
Countries are using the new WHO’s technical surveillance
guidelines and reporting tools to facilitate case detection,
reporting, case investigations, contact tracing, and followup.
Mpox signal detection and verification are being enhanced
through proactive information and data gathering system
using the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources.
WHO is supporting affected countries to improve surveillance
and laboratory capacity, including genomic surveillance.
WHO supports countries with vaccination strategies and
guidelines towards identifying high-risk and priority groups
for vaccination.
SITUATION INTERPRETATION
Two newly confirmed mpox cases were reported from the
Democratic Republic of the Congo in the past week, with no
death. WHO AFRO supports countries on mpox surveillance and
response through the provision of funds and mpox vaccines.
Comment