The ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control has reported a surge in monkeypox cases in the region, with 44 confirmed cases and one death recorded as of August 15, 2024.
The hardest-hit countries in the ECOWAS region are Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Ghana, with Nigeria recording the highest number of cases at 24.
The African continent is facing a massive public health emergency, with 37,583 cases and 1,451 deaths reported this year. The Democratic Republic of Congo accounts for 96.3% of all cases and 97% of deaths.
The Regional Centre has called for an immediate scaling up of response efforts, including public awareness campaigns, strengthened surveillance systems, and enhanced cooperation among neighboring countries.
The European Union has pledged to donate 215,000 doses of vaccines to Africa to combat the ongoing monkeypox outbreak.
The Regional Centre emphasized the need for coordinated efforts in surveillance, data sharing, and joint outbreak response to contain the spread of monkeypox across borders.
