The World Health Organization has said mpox cases in the region of DR Congo where a new and more infectious variant was first detected appear to be “plateauing,” even as the virus continues to increase in other regions of the country, as well as in Burundi and Uganda, AP reported.
In a report on Monday, the UN health agency said the number of mpox infections “shows a general rising trend” but that they may have plateaued in South Kivu, where the more infectious form of mpox was first identified to be spreading earlier this year in the gold mining town of Kamituga.
WHO acknowledged, however, that testing is still not widespread, making it difficult to understand how exactly the virus is spreading.
According to data from last week, DR Congo reported fewer than 100 laboratory-confirmed mpox cases, down from nearly 400 in July.
In recent weeks, experts say that infections appear to be stabilising, offering a chance for health authorities to definitively stamp out the outbreak.
So far, about 50,000 people in DR Congo have been immunised against mpox; the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 3 million vaccines are needed to stop the outbreak.
Last week, Africa CDC’s director Dr Jean Kaseya said the continent was “still in the acute phase” of the mpox epidemic, with 19 countries affected. He warned that without more resources to stop the virus in Africa, it could become a global threat.
WHO said the mpox outbreak in Burundi is also being driven by the newer variant, which causes less severe symptoms — meaning people who are infectious may not realise they are spreading it.
In the last two weeks, Burundi has reported more than 200 new mpox cases every week, mostly in children and young adults.
Uganda reported 100 new cases last week.
WHO also said it would convene an expert meeting next Monday to determine if mpox still constitutes an international emergency.
Peoplesmind
