Mpox African region (WHO Africa, Week 22: 22-28 May 2023)

[Pathfinder]

WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 12: 13 - 19 March 2023
Data as reported by: 17:00; 19 March 2023
...

Multiple Countries Mpox

1 472 Cases
19 Deaths
1.3% CFR

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The WHO African region received reports of seven new
cases of mpox and 26 retrospectively reported cases in
the past week bringing the total cases reported in 2023 to
231 (16.7% increase). There were three deaths reported
in the past week.

Twenty-six (26) cases were reported for week 9 (ending 05
March 2023) from the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC) and Nigeria; the seven newly reported cases were
for week 10 (ending 12 March) from Nigeria. Five (5)
African countries (Central African Republic (CAR), DRC,
Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria) have reported mpox cases
in 2023 out of 10 countries reporting mpox in the region.
The number of mpox cases in DRC has increased from
419 to 439 (4.8% increase) as the country retrospectively
reported 19 new cases in week 9. Since the start of 2023,
DRC has reported 192 suspected and 160 laboratory
confirmed cases, of which more than half, 82 (51.3%) of
the cases are females, and most are within the 0-19 age
group 89 (55.8%).

Provinces that have been most affected in 2023 are
Tshopo 70 (43.8%), Tshuapa 50 (31.3%) and Sankuru
21 (13.1%). No laboratory-confirmed death has been
reported in DRC in 2023.

The seven retrospectively and seven newly reported
cases in Nigeria in the past week have increased
the number of mpox cases to 57 in 2023. Nigeria has
reported 820 cases from 1 January 2022 to 19 March
2023. The top five states reporting cases in Nigeria in
2023 include Lagos (19), Abia (5), Edo (5), Ogun (5), and
Imo (4). Together, the five states reported 38 out of 57
(66.7%) cases in 2023. Most cases reported in 2023 are
males 45 (79.0%), and a larger proportion is within the
21 – 50 years 45 (79.0%) age group.

Between 1 January 2022 and 19 March 2023, 1 472
laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported from 13
African countries, including Nigeria (820), the DRC (439),
Ghana (123), CAR (27), Cameroon (18), Sudan (18),
Liberia (7), 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 include Nigeria, 820 (55.7%), DRC 439
(29.8%), and Ghana, 123 (8.4%). Together, the three
countries have reported 1 382 (93.9%) of all confirmed
cases.

There are eight countries that recorded ongoing outbreaks
in 2022 with no reported new mpox cases in 2023; Benin,
Cameroon, Congo, Egypt, Mozambique, Morocco, South
Africa, and Sudan.

Nineteen (19) deaths have been reported in the African
region since 2022 from Nigeria (9), Ghana (4), Cameroon
(3), CAR (1), Mozambique (1), and Sudan (1).
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

Efforts to enhance mpox risk communication and
community engagement and identify priority groups
for vaccination are underway in several African
countries. The WHO Africa regional office provides
technical assistance and coordination to support
these activities.

WHO AFRO is leading efforts to strengthen mpox
surveillance and response across the region, focusing
on improving laboratory capacity, information
management, and genomic sequencing.

WHO AFRO is also working with countries to study
the potential impact of mpox on animal populations
and wastewater systems in Africa.

SITUATION INTERPRETATION

New mpox cases were retrospectively reported from
DRC and Nigeria in the past week, with one death from
Nigeria. Five countries in the African region have reported
new cases in 2023, including the Central Africa Republic,
the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Liberia,
and Nigeria.
...
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/366585/OEW12-1319032023.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

 

[Pathfinder]

WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 18: 24-30 April 2023
Data as reported by: 17:00; 30 April 2023
...

Multiple Countries

Mpox

1 319 Cases
17 Deaths
1.3% CFR

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Four countries in the WHO African region reported 111
newly confirmed mpox cases in the past two weeks,
resulting in a 7.4% increase. Of all reported cases, 106
new cases were reported from the Democratic Republic
of the Congo (DRC), two from Nigeria, two from Liberia
and one from Ghana.

Only five African countries (Central African Republic
(CAR), DRC, Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria) have reported
mpox cases in 2023.

The number of mpox cases in DRC increased by 23.6%
as the country reported 106 new cases in weeks 13, 14
and 15. Since the start of 2023, DRC has reported 277
laboratory-confirmed cases. No laboratory-confirmed
mpox related death has been reported from DRC since
the outbreak in 2022. About half of the 277 cases reported
are males, 145 (52.3%), and a larger proportion is within
the 0 – 19 years, 160 (57.8%) age group.

The two newly reported cases in Nigeria in the past two
weeks have increased the number of mpox cases to 72
in 2023. Nigeria has cumulatively reported 835 cases
from 1 January 2022 to 23 April 2023. The top five states
reporting cases in Nigeria in 2023 include Lagos (20),
Ogun (9), Abia (6), Imo (5), and Edo (4). Together, the
five states reported (61.1%) cases in 2023. Most cases
reported in 2023 are males 52 (72%), and a larger
proportion is within the 21 – 50 years 53 (73.6%) age
group.

Liberia has cumulatively reported 12 cases from 1 January
2022 to 23 April 2023, of which seven were reported in
2023. The five counties reporting cases in Liberia in 2023
include Rivercess (2), Grand Cape Mount (2), Gbarpolu
(1), Nimba (1), and Sinoe (1). Most cases reported since
2022 are males 10 (83.3%), and half are within the 24 – 49
years 6 (50.0%) age group.

Furthermore, Ghana retrospectively reported one newly
confirmed case for week 14 (ending 09 April 2023),
making a total of 125 cases, including four deaths
(CFR = 3.3%). The new case was reported on 02 April 2023
with no deaths. Fourteen out of 16 regions, comprising
55 districts, have confirmed mpox cases in Ghana 2022.
Most cases are concentrated in districts located in the
southern parts of the country. Greater Accra has the
highest number of cases (74), followed by the Ashanti
region (11). Only Ahafo and Savanah regions have not
recorded mpox cases in Ghana. Males constitute 58.9%
(72) of all cases; the median age of all confirmed cases is
26. However, 95 (76.0%) cases are aged 16-39.

Between 1 January 2022 and 30 April 2023, 1 613
laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported from 13
African countries, including Nigeria (835), the DRC (556),
Ghana (125), CAR (29), Cameroon (18), Sudan (18),
Liberia (12), Congo (5), South Africa (5), Benin Republic
(3), Morocco (3), Egypt (3), and Mozambique (1).

The top three countries with the highest number of
confirmed cases include Nigeria, 835 (51.8%), DRC 556
(34.5%), and Ghana, 125 (7.7%). Together, the three
countries have reported 1 516 (94.0%) of all confirmed
cases.

There are eight countries that recorded ongoing outbreaks
in 2022 with no reported new mpox cases in 2023; Benin,
Cameroon, Congo, Egypt, Mozambique, Morocco, South
Africa, and Sudan.

Nineteen (19) deaths have been reported in the African
region since 2022 from Nigeria (9), Ghana (4), Cameroon
(3), CAR (1), Mozambique (1), and Sudan (1).

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

The WHO is supporting countries financially and
technically to investigate modes of transmission and
characterize mpox cases in the region.

Ongoing technical support for the countries to identify
target groups for mpox vaccination

WHO is supporting Nigeria and The Democratic
Republic of the Congo in conducting an extensive
epidemiological investigation on mpox

WHO is leading efforts to enhance monkeypox
surveillance and response across the region, focusing
on improving laboratory capacity, information
management, and genomic sequencing.

WHO is collaborating with countries to study the
potential impact of monkeypox on animal populations
and wastewater systems in Africa.

SITUATION INTERPRETATION

New mpox cases were reported from the Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria in the
past two weeks. Five countries have reported new cases
in 2023, including the Central Africa Republic, the DRC,
Ghana, Liberia, and Nigeria. DRC and Nigeria have been
reporting weekly new mpox cases since January 2023.
...
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/367498/OEW18-2430042023.pdf​

 

[Pathfinder]

WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 22: 22-28 May 2023
Data as reported by: 17:00; 28 May 2023
...

Multiple countries

Mpox

1 616 Cases
19 Deaths
1.2% CFR

EVENT DESCRIPTION

One hundred and thirty-five (135) newly confirmed mpox
cases were reported from four countries in the past
two weeks, increasing the number of cases in Africa
to 1 817 (8.0% increase) since January 2022. Two new
mpox related deaths were reported from the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the same reporting
period. The new cases were reported from DRC (117),
Cameroon (11), Nigeria (5) and Ghana (2). Six (6) African
countries (Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR),
DRC, Ghana, Liberia, and Nigeria) have reported 576
mpox cases in 2023.

Cameroon reported 11 newly laboratory-confirmed
mpox cases for the first time in 2023. Two of the 11
cases were reported in week 19 (ending 14 May 2023)
and nine in week 20 (ending 21 May 2023). The country
has cumulatively reported 29 cases from 1 January 2022
to 25 May 2023. The 11 confirmed cases in 2023 were
reported from Logbaba district (1) of Litoral region and
two districts, Mbonge (7) and South (3) of South Western
region. Most cases reported in 2023 are males 8 (72.2%)
and 6 (54.5%) are within the 25 – 44 age group.

Since the start of 2023, DRC has reported 460 laboratoryconfirmed
cases. Cumulatively, the Country has reported 739 cases including
117 new cases in weeks 18 (66 cases) and 19 (51 cases).
Additionally, two laboratoryconfirmed deaths were reported from the DRC
for the first time in 2023. More than half of the cases reported in
DRC in 2023 are males (53.5%), and a larger proportion
is within the 0 – 19 years (57.8%) age group.

Five newly confirmed cases were reported in Nigeria in
the past two weeks. Nigeria has cumulatively reported
842 cases from 1 January 2022 to 25 May 2023. The
top five states reporting cases in Nigeria in 2023 include
Lagos (22), Ogun (15), Abia (6), Imo (5), and Rivers (5).
The five states reported (67.1%) of cases in 2023. Most
cases reported in 2023 are males 53 (71%), and a larger
proportion is within the 21 – 50 years 56 (74.7%) age
group.

Furthermore, Ghana retrospectively reported two newly
confirmed cases for weeks 17 (1) and 18 (1), totalling
127 cases, including four deaths (CFR = 3.1%).

Fourteen out of 16 regions, comprising 55 districts, have
confirmed mpox cases in Ghana since 2022. Most cases
are concentrated in districts located in the southern parts
of the country. Greater Accra has the highest number
of cases (75), followed by the Ashanti region (12). Only
Ahafo and Savanah regions have not recorded mpox
cases in Ghana. Males constitute 58.3% (74) of all cases;
the median age of all confirmed cases is 26. However, 97
(76.4%) cases are aged 16-39.

Between 1 January 2022 and 28 May 2023, 1 817
laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported from 13
African countries, including; Nigeria (842), the DRC (739),
Ghana (127), CAR (29), Cameroon (29), Sudan (18),
Liberia (12), Congo (5), South Africa (5), Benin Republic
(3), Morocco (3), Egypt (3), and Mozambique (1).
The top three countries with the highest number of
confirmed cases include Nigeria, 842 (46.3%), DRC 739
(40.7%), and Ghana, 127 (7.0%). The three countries
have reported 1 708 (94.0%) of all confirmed cases.
There are seven countries that recorded ongoing
outbreaks in 2022 with no reported new mpox cases in
2023; Benin, Congo, Egypt, Mozambique, Morocco,
South Africa, and Sudan.

Nineteen (21) deaths have been reported in the African
region since 2022 from Nigeria (9), Ghana (4), Cameroon
(3), DRC (2), CAR (1), Mozambique (1), and Sudan (1).
Five deaths have been reported from three countries DRC
(2), Nigeria (2) and CAR (1) in 2023.

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

Efforts to enhance mpox risk communication and
community engagement and identify priority groups
for vaccination are underway in several African
countries. The WHO Africa regional office provides
technical assistance and coordination to support
these activities.

The WHO AFRO is leading efforts to strengthen
mpox surveillance and response across the region,
focusing on improving laboratory capacity, information
management, and genomic sequencing.

The WHO AFRO is also working with countries to study
the potential impact of mpox on animal populations
and wastewater systems in Africa.

SITUATION INTERPRETATION

Mpox cases increased in Africa as four and two countries reported new cases and new deaths respectively in the
past two weeks. Six countries have reported new cases in 2023, including Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, the
DRC, Ghana, Liberia, and Nigeria. Notably, Cameroon reported eleven mpox cases for the first time in 2023, while two
laboratory-confirmed deaths were reported from the DRC for the first time in 2023.

...

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/368482/OEW22-2228052023.pdf​