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Since the beginning of 2024, the number of laboratory-confirmed mpox cases and deaths reported to the WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) as of 07 August 2024 was 2,081 and 13, respectively, with a case fatality ratio (CFR) of 0.6%. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), due to its large number of cases, remains a significant focus for ongoing monitoring and response efforts. The 13 confirmed deaths were reported from three countries (DRC = 8, South Africa = 3 and Cameroon = 2).

Country Specific Updates

Between April and 07 August 2024, South Africa reported 24 lab-confirmed cases of mpox, with 10 cases in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), 11 in Gauteng (GP), and 1 in the Western Cape (WC). Sequence analysis revealed that 6 of these cases were of clade IIb, consistent with the strain circulating in the multi-country mpox outbreak. There have been three mpox-related deaths: one in Gauteng on 10 June and two in KwaZulu-Natal on 13 June and 23 June. This results in a case fatality rate (CFR) of 12.5%.

Ongoing contact tracing and monitoring efforts are underway, with 44 contacts identified in KZN, 132 in GP, and 39 in WC. All 24 confirmed cases are males aged between 23 and 43 years. Among them, 18 identify as men who have sex with men (MSM), and one is reported to have multiple sexual partners, including both males and females. According to WHO definitions, all but one of the mpox cases are classified as severe, characterised by lesions, hospitalisation, immunocompromised status, or co-morbidities.