In 2024, as of 01 September 2024, 15 countries have reported 3’891 confirmed cases, including 32 deaths. The three countries with the majority of the cases in 2024 are The Democratic Republic of the Congo, (n = 3’361), Burundi, (n = 328), and Nigeria (n = 48).
Note: a significant number of suspected cases, that are clinically compatible with mpox are not tested due to limited diagnostic capacity and never get confirmed. WHO efforts on integrating these data is currently ongoing and will be included in future updates. Not all countries have robust surveillance systems for mpox, so case counts are likely to be underestimates.
According to WHO, in 2024 as of 1 Sept 2024, mpox due to monkeypox virus clade I were reported in (for updates, details, epidemic curves, see WHO LINK):
Clade Ia and b:
- D.R. Congo: According to WHO: 3’361 cases. Increasing trend in number of cases.
According to Africa CDC, update 31 Aug 2024: Since the last update (23 August 2024 ), the MoH reported 1’838 confirmed, 1’095 suspected and 35 deaths (CFR: 2.2%) of mpox from 16 provinces. This is a 137% increase in the number of new cases reported compared to the last update. Cumulatively, 4’799 confirmed, 17’801 suspected and 610 deaths (CFR: 3.4%) of mpox have been reported from all 26 provinces in DRC. Children <15 years accounted for 66% of cases and 82% of deaths. Of the confirmed cases, 73% were males. Clade Ia and Ib was isolated from the confirmed cases.
Clade Ib
- Burundi: 328 confirmed cases (plus more than 700 cases suspected cases), including more than 190 hospitalized patients. Increasing trend in cases (+8 % within one week).
The majority of case are from North Bujumbura, Kayanza and South Bujumbura district. A total of 29 districts out of 49 districts) have reported at least one positive mpox case. - Rwanda: 4 cases
- Uganda: 10 cases
- Kenya: 4 cases
- Outside Africa: Sweden (1 case, imported from Burundi), Thailand (1 case, imported from DRC)
Clade Ia:
- D.R. Congo: 23 cases
- Republic of the Congo: 49 confirmed cases
- Central African Republic: 45 confirmed cases
- Cameroon: 5 cases including unknown number of cases with clade IIa and IIb
Mpox due to monkeypox virus clade II (a and b) reported in 2024 (for updates, details, epidemic curves, see WHO LINK):
- Côte d’Ivoire: 28 cases
- Nigeria: 48 cases
- South Africa: 24 cases
- Marocco: 1 case
- Cameroon: 5 cases including unknown number of cases with clade 1a
In addition, mpox cases have been reported in Africa without specification of the clade in 2024:
- Gabon: 2 cases
- Guinea: 1 case
- Liberia: 7 cases
Clades globally detected (1 Jan 2022 to 01 Sept 2024), Link Outbreak status (active transmission = red), Link
WHO conducted the latest global mpox risk assessment in August 2024. Based on the available information, the risk was assessed as:
- In eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring countries, the overall risk is assessed as high.
- In areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo where mpox is endemic, mpox risk is assessed as high.
- In Nigeria and other countries of West, Central and East Africa where mpox is endemic, mpox risk is assessed as moderate.
WHO risk assesment, see LINK.
Follow local media and local health authority advice. The following prevention measures should be followed during a stay in countries where mpox is endemic/epidemic (see also Factsheet mpox).
General precautions
- Worldwide:
- Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have or may have mpox or people who have a rash (e.g., pimples, blisters, scabs).
- Wash your hands often with soap + water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid touching potentially contaminated personal items such as bedding/clothing, towels or sharing eating utensils/cups, food or drink with a person who has, or may have mpox.
- Avoid sex with sick persons; use of condoms for up to 12 weeks if you sexual partner have had mpox.
- Follow advice of local authorities.
- When travelling to endemic / epidemic areas in Africa, in addition to above mentioned general precautions:
- Avoid contact with and animals in areas where mpox regularly occurs.
- Avoid eating or preparing meat from wild animals (bushmeat) or using products (creams, lotions, powders) derived from wild animals.
- Avoid contact with and animals in areas where mpox regularly occurs.
Vaccination
A vaccination against mpox is available (Jynneos®, manufactured by Bavarian Nordic). The Swiss Expert for Travel Medicine recommends vaccination against mpox in following situations, status 30 August 2024 (the recommendation will be updated regularly depending on the development of the outbreak):
1. People staying or travelling to Eastern D.R. Congo and Burundi in case of:
- Clinical, research or laboratory work
- Working with animals
(of note: broader indication is under discussion)
2. People staying outside of Eastern D.R. Congo and Burundi (worldwide) in case of
- Increase risk (e.g. laboratory workers handling mpox virus, men who have sex with men or trans-persons with multiple sexual partners), see Swiss recommendations: see Link.
At the present time, it is assumed that the available vaccine against mpox (e.g. Jynneos®) is also effective against the new clade I. This vaccine is considered safe and highly effective in preventing severe mpox disease.
In case of symptoms
- Seek medical attention immediately
If you are diagnosed with mpox:
- Please stay at home (isolate yourself) until your mpox rash has healed and a new layer of skin has formed. Staying away from other people and not sharing things you have touched with others will help prevent the spread of mpox. People with mpox should regularly clean and disinfect the spaces they use to limit household contamination.
- Wash your hands often with soap /water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
- You should not have sex while symptomatic and while you have lesions or symptoms. Use condoms for 12 weeks after infection. This is a precaution to reduce the risk of spreading the virus to a partner.
- For more information on what do if you are sick, see CDC LINK.
For clinicians:
- Consider mpox as a possible diagnosis in patients with epidemiologic characteristics and lesions or other clinical signs and symptoms consistent with mpox. This includes persons who have been in DRC or, due to the demonstrated risks of regional spread, any of its neighboring countries in the previous 21 days.
- Further information on evaluation and diagnosis: see CDC LINK.