The Mpox virus, also known as monkeypox, is currently making its way through Central Africa, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). In Cameroon, there are 11 suspected cases and two confirmed instances of the virus. The first confirmed case, located in the city of Douala, passed away in Cité des Palmiers. The second confirmed case, still alive, is in the city of Bamenda, in the Northwest region. The Public Health Emergency Operations Coordination Center, PHEOCC, recently released these figures, assuring that the Mpox situation is under control nationwide. Cameroon is actively assessing risks, with a focus on monitoring air travel routes due to the potential for case occurrence.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the hardest hit, with 4,500 cases and 300 fatalities, as per WHO statistics. This situation has not only alarmed authorities in Kinshasa but also raised concerns among other countries in the sub-region, who are collectively working to halt the virus’s spread. Emmanuel Lampaert, the coordinator of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) missions in Central Africa, commended this collective effort, as reported by Le Monde Afrique.

In response to the crisis, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Africa CDC, a pan-African health agency, has established a steering committee comprising all Central African countries. CDC Africa’s response strategy prioritizes vaccination and the prescription of antivirals. Experts suggest that the spread of cases in the DRC is further complicated by the ongoing war in the country’s east, where the national army is battling the M23 rebellion. This conflict, for the time being, restricts the virus’s potential to spread beyond the DRC’s borders. However, experts are also concerned about the possibility of transmission through sexual contact…

Michel Ange Nga