From January 2022 to June 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) recorded 99,176 confirmed cases of mpox, known as monkeypox, in 116 countries. During this period, 208 deaths caused by the disease were also reported.
Data released on Monday (12) by the organization shows that, just in June, 934 cases were confirmed, and four deaths were reported in 26 countries.
The most affected regions in June, according to the number of confirmed cases, are Africa (567 cases), Americas (175 cases), Europe (100 cases), Western Pacific (81 cases), and Southeast Asia (11 cases). The Eastern Mediterranean reported no cases during this period.
On the African continent, the Democratic Republic of the Congo accounts for 96% of the confirmed cases in June. However, the WHO warns that the country has limited access to testing in rural areas.
“The number of confirmed cases therefore underestimates the true burden of the disease in the country,” the organization added. Furthermore, preliminary data from July and August 2024, which were not included in the report, indicate the expansion of the virus in Africa.
At least four new countries in East Africa, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, reported their first cases of mpox—all linked to the expanding outbreak in the region. Ivory Coast reported an outbreak of the disease, but of a different variant, while South Africa confirmed two more cases.
Between January 2022 and June 2024, ten countries accounted for the majority of confirmed cases globally: United States (33,191), Brazil (11,212), Spain (8,084), France (4,272), Colombia (4,249), Mexico (4,124), United Kingdom (3,952), Peru (3,875), Germany (3,857), and Democratic Republic of the Congo (2,999).
What is Mpox
Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It can cause painful skin rashes, swollen lymph nodes, and fever. Most people recover completely, but some become very ill.
Modes of Transmission
Among the modes of transmission of the disease, sexual contact is the most commonly reported (19,102 out of 22,801 cases or 83.8%), followed by non-sexual contact between people.
Symptoms
Among cases where at least one symptom is reported, the most common is skin rash (88.5%), followed by fever (57.9%) and systemic or genital rash (54.8% and 49.5%, respectively).
Profile
According to the WHO report, 96.4% of confirmed mpox cases (87,189 out of 90,410 cases) are men, with an average age of 34 years.
The majority of confirmed cases in individuals aged 17 and under were reported in the Americas (709 out of 1,161 cases; 61%). In countries historically affected by mpox, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, children under 15 represent the majority of reported cases.
Source: Agência Brasil