Fatshimetrie: Health Challenges in Central and Eastern Africa
The Central and Eastern Africa region is currently facing a major health crisis with the outbreaks of the Mpox virus and the Marburg virus. These scourges, which are mainly occurring in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, have put a strain on local health systems and require a rapid and coordinated response.
The Mpox virus continues to spread in the DRC, with more than 13,000 cases and 450 deaths reported to date. This alarming situation highlights the region’s shortfalls in testing capacity and medical resources, complicating efforts to contain the outbreak.
Neighboring countries such as Cameroon, Burundi and Uganda are also affected by new cases, highlighting the need for a united regional response to control the spread of the virus. Despite the containment measures in place, the overloaded health systems make the task extremely difficult.
In August 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Mpox a public health emergency due to the increasing number of cases, operational challenges, and the need for concerted action to contain the disease. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, highlighted that the number of Mpox cases has increased significantly in recent years, reaching record levels in 2024.
As for the Marburg virus, Rwanda is facing its first outbreak of the epidemic, with more than 60 confirmed cases. Health workers are particularly affected by this virus, which has a high mortality rate, thus exacerbating the urgency for a rapid and effective response by authorities and international partners.
Despite the distribution of nearly 900,000 doses of Mpox vaccine in Africa, health authorities emphasize that more than 10 million doses would be needed to effectively contain the epidemic. Vaccination campaigns are underway, but significant challenges remain, particularly in terms of logistics and accessibility to the most affected areas.
Faced with the dual threat of Mpox and Marburg viruses, further investment in health infrastructure, epidemiological surveillance and emergency response capacities is essential. The efforts of local communities are commendable, but continued support from the international community is essential to address these overlapping health crises.
In conclusion, the Mpox and Marburg outbreaks highlight the importance of international solidarity and coordination between countries to effectively address the major health challenges facing Central and East Africa. Only concerted actions and sustained investments will make it possible to contain these scourges and strengthen the resilience of the region’s health systems.