The Deputy Incident Manager of the Incident Management Support Team at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Prof. Yap Boum, has reported a significant decline in Mpox cases in Sierra Leone, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as well as across the African continent.
By  Williametta T. Jabbah, Contributing Writer
Speaking during a press briefing, Prof. Boum noted that Sierra Leone accounted for 41% of confirmed Mpox cases on the continent in week 24, a drop from 53% the previous week. He further stated that Sierra Leone, Uganda, and the DRC currently represent 87% of all confirmed Mpox cases across Africa.
Prof. Boum stressed the importance of tailoring responses to the specific contexts of these countries in order to eradicate the disease from the continent.
He disclosed that 11 African countries have received Mpox vaccines, with seven countries actively conducting vaccination campaigns. So far, over 700,000 people have been vaccinated.
However, while Mpox cases are declining, Prof. Boum warned of a concerning rise in cholera across the continent. Africa now accounts for 60% of global cholera cases and a staggering 93.5% of all cholera-related deaths.
According to Prof. Boum, 21 African Union member states are currently affected by cholera outbreaks, with 40% of reported cases involving children.
He emphasized the urgent need for a coordinated and multisectoral approach to effectively combat cholera and other public health threats across Africa.
