Mpox outbreak widens as different strains reach Côte d'Ivoire, Thailand
Côte d'Ivoire has reported cases of mpox Clade 2 for the first time since the start of the multi-country outbreak in 2022, while Thailand has confirmed Asia’s first known case of a new, deadlier strain of mpox in a patient who had travelled to the country from Africa.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday that cases of mpox Clade 2 have been reported in Côte d'Ivoire.
According to national health officials, at least 28 cases of mpox and one death have been recorded in the West African country.
"The National Public Hygiene Institute [INHP] recorded 28 confirmed cases, including one death across the country as of Tuesday," said INHP doctor Daouda Coulibaly.
He added that monitoring for mpox had been strengthened.
"We have to break the chains of transmission, identify the contacts of cases, isolate them and monitor them."
Cases rise in Central Africa
The number of mpox cases continues to increase in Central Africa, notably in the Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.
According to RFI's correspondent in CAR, Rolf Steve Domia-Leu, nearly 100 suspected cases of monkeypox have been detected throughout the country over the past four weeks.
The main areas affected by the disease so far are Mbomou in the east, Kemo in the centre, Lobaye in the south-east and the capital, Bangui.
The disease is nonetheless under control, according to Valentin Nebanga, head of the health promotion department at the Ministry of Public Health.
(with newswires)
Read more on RFI English
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