Health authorities in Guinea have confirmed more than 200 cases of mpox since the viral disease was first detected in the country in September last year. According to Sory Keira, spokesperson for Guinea’s National Agency for Health Security (ANSS), the total number of reported infections has reached 206, including 77 hospitalisations and one death.
The rise in infections comes as several West African countries report similar surges, prompting renewed global concern. World Health Organization (WHO) Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently said the virus continues to pose an international health emergency due to increasing case numbers and likely undetected transmissions beyond Africa.
What is mpox, and how does it spread?
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral illness in the same family as smallpox. It can be transmitted from animals to humans, but human-to-human transmission occurs mainly through close physical contact, including skin-to-skin interaction. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and large, painful skin lesions that resemble boils. In some cases, the disease can be fatal.
There are two known subtypes of mpox: clade 1 and clade 2. While the virus has been endemic in parts of Central Africa since the 1970s, the clade 2 strain gained international attention in May 2022 after spreading globally, especially within networks of gay and bisexual men.
How serious is the outbreak in West Africa?
Guinea is not alone in the growing health challenge. Between January and late May, Sierra Leone recorded 3,350 cases, including 16 deaths. Liberia reported 71 active cases in early June, according to the country’s National Public Health Institute. Other countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Burundi have also seen a spike in cases, with thousands reported collectively this year.
The WHO continues to monitor the situation closely. In June, the organization maintained mpox’s status as a public health emergency of international concern, citing the rising numbers in West Africa and potential hidden transmissions in countries beyond the region.
By Yockshard Enyendi