The Central African Republic has reported a new outbreak of the mpox virus, which was previously only found in rural areas but has now reached the capital, Bangui. Health Minister Pierre Somse said that some families are hiding infected members due to stigma, which increases the risk of spreading the disease.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, can spread from animals to humans and from person to person through close contact and contaminated items. It causes symptoms like fever, muscle aches, and skin lesions and can be deadly if not treated.
Recent outbreaks have also been noted in Rwanda and Burundi, and a new strain is causing concern in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where there have been over 12,300 suspected cases and 479 deaths this year alone. The new strain has a high death rate of about 10%.
In South Africa, there have been 20 cases, including two deaths. Mpox is common in parts of west and central Africa and has been increasing in recent years. In 2022, there was a global outbreak affecting many countries.
For more information, see BBC’s coverage on the issue.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm52rk2el81o