WHO report reveals rise of monkeypox, measles and dengue cases in Africa

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported increase cases of monkeypox, measles and dengue cases in parts of Africa.

According to the WHO Weekly Bulletin on outbreaks and other emergencies, monkeypox (Mpox) is resurgent in South Africa, measles in Namibia, and dengue in Cape Verde.

South Africa: monkeypox

On 13 May 2024, the Government of South Africa declared an outbreak of Mpox after confirming a case from Gauteng province.

Between 1 January and 16 June 2024, South Africa reported 12 confirmed cases of Mpox, with two related deaths, a case fatality rate (CFR)of 16.6%.

The recent resurgence of mpox in the Republic of South Africa is among cases that do not have an associated
international travel history. All reported cases have presented with extensive mpox lesions, and all were
hospitalized.

Additional chains of disease transmission cannot be ruled out.

Namibia: measles

The ongoing measles outbreak in Erongo Region in Namibia began in March 2024 when primary school
learners at a private hostel presented with a skin rash at Okongue Clinic.

Initially diagnosed as chickenpox, measles was later suspected, and the first positive result
was confirmed on 1 April 2024.

Subsequent contact tracing and active case finding confirmed additional cases on 22 May 2024.

As of 7 June 2024, 105 suspected cases were reported across four health districts in the Erongo Region, including
10 confirmed cases and no deaths.

Despite the zero case-fatality rate and no hospitalizations, the current measles outbreak in the Erongo Region underscores significant public health challenges.

The outbreak has highlighted gaps in vaccination coverage, particularly in isolated communities like the Okongue hostel.

The age distribution of confirmed cases suggests a potentially susceptible population that missed routine immunizations.

Cape Verde: dengue

Cape Verde has been experiencing a dengue epidemic since epidemiological week 24 in 2023 (week ending on 17 June 2023).

After six weeks of plateauing in the number of new suspected cases and confirmed cases, there was a sharp increase in the incidence of suspected cases and confirmed cases in epidemiological week 22 in 2024 (week ending 1 June 2024).

In epidemiological week 22 of 2024, 55 new suspected cases and 31 new confirmed cases were reported.

Since the onset of the dengue outbreak in Cape Verde, there have been 1,422 suspected cases and 755
confirmed cases. To date, no deaths from Dengue have been confirmed in Cape Verde.

Cape Verde is still encountering challenges in responding to the dengue outbreak.

These challenges include improved testing and surveillance to prevent a rapid increase in cases, distributing rapid testing kits to health facilities, maintaining the laboratory’s research and serotyping capacity, and bolstering community mobilization to implement dengue prevention and control measures.

To improve the effectiveness and sustainability of the response, public health and social control measures must be tailored to the current epidemiological, social, and economic situation in Cape Verde.

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