Despite sharp declines in mpox infections in the United States and globally as a result of vaccination and social awareness efforts, countries in West and Central Africa still face a high burden from the outbreak, according to an article published in Nature. African countries—which have been battling the disease since its identification in 1970—continue to lack adequate resources to test patients for the mpox infection and track the disease’s spread, reporting concerns that once the World Health Organization declares an end to the public health emergency in wealthier nations, African countries may no longer receive research and vaccine support. Even with an upcoming donation of 50,000 vaccines to the African Union, experts acknowledged that the effort to supply vaccinations has been insufficient and slow—and that most patients in Africa can now only access the mpox vaccine tecovirimat through clinical trials. Additionally, experts warned that only 17% of infections were officially diagnosed, while as many as 6,000 cases went undiagnosed. The mpox infection may also be spread by rodents in African countries, and only 60% of those infected identify as male. As a result of these setbacks, cases of the mpox disease have not declined as they have in wealthier nations. This has inspired researchers to look for solutions to raise vaccination rates, monitor disease transmission, and prevent future outbreaks in African countries.
May 25, 2023