The ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control has raised the alarm over the spread of monkeypox in West Africa, reporting 44 confirmed cases and one death in the region as of August 15, 2024.
Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Ghana are the hardest-hit countries in ECOWAS.
The report was released on Friday, August 16, and made available to journalists on Saturday.
Mpox, or monkeypox, is a zoonotic viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus, part of the Orthopoxvirus genus. While it shares similarities with smallpox, it is generally less severe.
“The situation is dire, and we need to act fast,” said a spokesperson for the centre. “We urge governments and health authorities to scale up response efforts, including public awareness campaigns, strengthened surveillance systems, and timely reporting and robust case management.”
Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Ghana are the hardest-hit countries in the region, with Nigeria accounting for 24 cases.
The centre warned that the African continent is facing a massive public health emergency, with 37,583 cases and 1,451 deaths reported this year, mostly in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“We need to work together to contain the spread of monkeypox across borders,” said the spokesperson. “Coordinated efforts in surveillance, data sharing, and joint outbreak response are crucial in mitigating the spread of the virus.”
The centre’s warning comes as the European Union donates 215,000 doses of vaccines to Africa to combat the outbreak.
