The South African region is dealing with the infectious disease MPOX (monkeypox) outbreak in July 2024. The Democratic Republic of Congo is the most affected and the disease is spreading to other African countries, which is concerning.
South Africa MPOX Outbreak 2024
The infectious disease MPOX was first reported in South Africa in 2022 and now this deadly disease has accelerated again raising global concerns. According to the reports, the mpox cases in the African region have been surfacing since the beginning of 2024 now it has crossed the borders and is spreading in many African countries.
It is reported that the Democratic Republic of Congo is the most affected region with 90% of the reported cases (13791 cases). The Republic of South Africa reported 20 confirmed cases, 3 deaths between 8 May and 2 July 2024 with a fatality rate of 15%. The current outbreak has affected over 17 countries in the African region is dealing with the mpox outbreak.
According to recent reports, over the week 887 new cases were reported in the African region pushing the 2024 cases tally to 15,132 cases. The increase rate of the 2024 pox outbreak is 160% higher than last year’s outbreak, which is concerning the world. The WHO is keeping an eye on the outbreak concerned it may lead to another pandemic.
What caused the MPOX disease?
The infectious disease MPOX is initiated by the monkey virus (MPXV), the virus has two clades- Clade 1 known as Congo Basic Clade, and Clade II the West African Clade, these clades have subclades IIa and IIb.
The scientist reports suggest this deadly disease spreads in two ways, one through infected animals and the other through human-to-human transmission. The MPOX variant that surfaced in DRC is concerning as it is crossing the border rapidly.
According to the July 2024 South African data, the highest number of cases are found among men aged between 17 years and 43 years. The reports suggest that people with multiple sexual partners and gay men are at higher risk.
The animal-to-human transmission occurs through scratches or bites, eating animals, hunting, etc.
South Africa MPOX Symptoms
MPOX affects the person in stages, the following are the initial symptoms of MPOX:
- Fever: The first symptom of MPOX is fever, the affected person will first feel the cold and chills.
- Rashes: In a week, the person will have rashes on the skin, it may start with the face and to other parts of the body. The rash would appear like blisters or pimples with pus or fluid. At later stages, the blisters with pus may stay for five to seven days and eventually become scabs that may fall off in two weeks.
- Head and body ache: The affected person may feel severe head or body aches leading to fatigue and sometimes to migraine.
- Swollen Lymph nodes: It is a sign that your immune system is fighting the infection.
South Africa MPOX Treatment
The identification of MPOX is not easy as it is easily mistaken as a viral infection in earlier days due to similar symptoms. According to the African CDC and WHO, swollen lymph nodes are usually used to determine the Mpox from various infectious diseases. The PCT Test (Polymerase Chain Reaction) is used to test the MPOX virus.
Normally, the disease lasts for two to four weeks depending on the person, but it gets better with appropriate treatment. The healthcare officers generally monitor the condition of the patients and take measures to relieve the pain and symptoms of the MPOX-affected patient.
According to the reports, currently, there aren’t any approved MPOX treatments but there are vaccines, only 200,000. The African CDC is planning to organize a vaccination program to trace the targeted group and vaccinate them immediately as the vaccines are limited.
What are the precautionary Measures for the MPOX?
The MPOX is spreading fast in African regions, here are some precautionary measures that you should take to avoid the infection:
- You should avoid close contact with affected people and animals.
- You should wear a medically approved mask in public or when you are in close contact with people especially if you are affected with MPOX.
- You should not share clothes, utensils or eat on the same plate, or any material that may have come in contact with MPOC lesions.
- You should immediately get vaccinated with the MPOX vaccine.
- You should maintain good hygiene habits like washing hands, disinfecting the house, etc.
WHO takes on South Africa MPOX 2024 outbreak
WHO has raised its concern over the South Africa escalating outbreak of MBOX, and many African countries are dealing with the disease. Recently, the Director General of WHO, Tedros Adhanom declared an emergency meeting over the South Africa MPOX to determine if they should declare the African health emergency of MPOX as a global emergency.
The WHO has called for a meeting seeing the DRV MPOX variant rapidly spread across African countries. The WHO has extended its hand to the African nations affected by MPOX. The upcoming meeting will be held on the to-be-announced dates, the meeting will determine the WHO take on the MPOX.
The risk of MPOX has increased in the African regions as the number of cases is rising rapidly each week, it’s a major health emergency in Africa right now. The WHO and its partners are supporting the African regions with vaccination strategies and emergency response, hopefully, the conditions will improve soon.
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