New monkeypox outbreaks announced in Kenya, Central Africa Republic

Kenya and the Central African Republic have declared new outbreaks of monkeypox as African health officials scramble to stem the spread of the disease in a region lacking vaccines.

This development follows Nairobi’s announcement on Wednesday, after a case was detected in a passenger traveling from Uganda to Rwanda at a border post in southern Kenya.

Monkeypox became a global concern during an international outbreak in 2022 that saw the disease spread to more than 100 countries. It has since then been endemic in parts of central and west Africa for decades.

The Central African Republic was the first to declare a new outbreak on Monday, saying it was spreading to its capital, Bangui.

Minister of Public Health, CAR , Pierre Somsé, said on Monday in quote that they are very concerned about the cases of smallpox that are ravaging Region 7 of the country.”

The Central African Republic has become the latest country in the region to declare an outbreak of the mpox virus.

Infections have spread to the capital, Bangui, after being restricted to rural areas, according to health minister, Pierre Somse

Cases of the highly infectious disease have recently been detected in Rwanda and Burundi, while a new strain has been spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF), DR Congo has recorded more than12,300 suspected cases and 479 deaths in the first half of this year.

Experts say the new strain there has an estimated death rate of 10%.

Neighbouring Burundi recently confirmed three new cases while Rwanda detected two.

South Africa has recorded 20 cases, including two deaths.

Mpox is endemic in parts of west and central Africa and cases have been on the rise on the continent for decades.