Africa: The number of deaths due to the smallpox epidemic has risen to 1,100 people
The death toll from the current smallpox epidemic in Africa has reached 1,100 deaths, bringing the total number of infections to 42,438 cases, including 8,113 confirmed cases, since the beginning of 2024, according to the African Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
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| A health worker administers a dose of smallpox vaccine to a resident at a hospital in Goma, North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, October 5. |
| Photo: Xinhua/VNA/CVN |
The death toll from the current smallpox epidemic in Africa has reached 1,100 deaths, bringing the total number of infections to 42,438 cases, including 8,113 confirmed cases, since the beginning of 2024, according to the African Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
During an online press conference on Thursday evening, the Director General of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Jean Cassia, said that the African continent recorded 3,051 new cases and 50 new deaths in the past week alone.
“For the first time, cases were reported in Zambia on 8 October, and new cases were reported in Zimbabwe on 12 October. We are also recording additional cases in Uganda and Ghana. Unfortunately, we recorded the first death in Kenyasaid Mr. Cassia.
According to the Africa CDC, 18 African countries have been affected by the smallpox epidemic since the beginning of the year, and the disease has spread to each of the five regions of the continent.
Data issued by the Specialized Health Agency of the African Union reveal that Central Africa is the most affected region, accounting for 86.4% of the total reported cases and more than 99% of the total deaths resulting from the disease.
The number of anthrax cases recorded this year represents a staggering 380% increase compared to the total cases recorded in 2023, according to the agency.
The Africa CDC also expressed concerns about the new outbreak in two prisons in Uganda, where the affected patients had no history of travel outside the country.
Xinhua/FNA/CVN
