Monkeypox cases rise in ECOWAS region

• The zoonotic viral disease, known as Mpox, shares similarities with smallpox but is typically less severe
  

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The ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control has reported a surge in monkeypox cases across West Africa, with 44 confirmed cases and one death by the end of Epi Week 33, 2024. Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Ghana are the hardest hit.

The report, released on August 16, highlighted growing regional concern.

The zoonotic viral disease, known as Mpox, shares similarities with smallpox but is typically less severe.

The African continent remains significantly impacted, with 37,583 cases and 1,451 deaths reported in 2024. The Democratic Republic of Congo is facing the worst of the crisis, accounting for over 96% of cases and deaths continent-wide.