Mpox kills two, as Cameroon reports six new cases

Cases of the mpox virus have killed two people in Cameroon since April with six further and 40 other suspected cases, the health ministry said Wednesday.

"Since the resurgence of this disease in April 2024, the country has recorded 46 suspected cases of mpox, six of which are confirmed, with two deaths reported," Health Minister Malachie Manaouda said.

However, the epidemic is "not linked to the new, more virulent strain (Clade 1b)", the ministry said.

The World Health Organization declared an international emergency over mpox four weeks ago after a surge in cases of the Clade 1b strain in DR Congo which spread to neighbouring countries.

Since then, "Cameroonian authorities have strengthened surveillance, vaccination and awareness measures to prevent a possible local outbreak," the ministry said.

At the end of last month mpox was recorded as present in 14 African countries.

Mpox is caused by a virus transmitted to humans by infected animals but can also be passed from human to human through close physical contact. It causes fever, muscular aches and large boil-like skin lesions, and can in some cases be deadly.

So far, 796 cases have been logged in Burundi, 162 in Congo-Brazzaville and 45 in the Central African Republic, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Democratic Republic of Congo is considered the epicentre of the epidemic.

According to the latest Congolese Public Health Institute figures, there have been nearly 22,000 cases and 716 deaths linked to the virus recorded since January.

Some 3.6 million vaccines in total for African countries have been secured, according to the CDC, and first batches are being distributed.