Since April, the mpox virus has claimed two lives in Cameroon, with six confirmed cases and 40 suspected ones, the country’s health ministry announced on Wednesday.
“Since the resurgence of this disease in April 2024, Cameroon has reported 46 suspected mpox cases, six of which are confirmed, with two deaths,” said Health Minister Malachie Manaouda.
However, the ministry clarified that the outbreak is not linked to the new, more virulent Clade 1b strain of the virus.
Four weeks ago, the World Health Organisation declared an international emergency due to a surge in Clade 1b cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which have since spread to neighbouring countries.
In response, “Cameroonian authorities have intensified surveillance, vaccination efforts, and public awareness campaigns to prevent a potential local outbreak,” the ministry added.
As of late last month, mpox has been reported in 14 African nations.
Mpox is a viral disease transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals and can spread between humans via close physical contact. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and large skin lesions, which can be fatal in severe cases.
According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 796 cases have been recorded in Burundi, 162 in Congo-Brazzaville, and 45 in the Central African Republic. The Democratic Republic of Congo remains the epicentre of the epidemic, with nearly 22,000 cases and 716 deaths reported since January, based on figures from the Congolese Public Health Institute.
The CDC has secured 3.6 million vaccines for African nations, with the first batches now being distributed.