World Health: The number of monkeypox infections continues to rise

Mark
Written By Mark

The World Health Organization announced that the number of monkeypox cases continues to rise in several African countries, as well as its spread to new areas.

In its latest report on the disease situation, the World Health Organization said that Guinea, the West African country, reported a case of infection for the first time.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo, located in Central Africa, is the most affected country, with 85% of about 6,600 cases of the disease confirmed by laboratory tests recorded during the current year.

Across Africa, 32 people with confirmed infections have died this year, including 25 in Congo.

The World Health Organization said that due to the lack of testing and laboratory capabilities in many cases, only 37% of suspected cases are examined, adding that suspicion has been confirmed in about 55% of cases.

Burundi, a neighboring and smaller country, has also been increasingly affected. Since the outbreak began last July, 1,879 suspected cases have been reported.

More tests are performed in Burundi than in Congo, where more tests are performed in about 93% of suspected cases, and suspected infection is confirmed in about 40% of cases.

About a third of those affected are children under the age of five.