The UN health body reports that nearly 30,000 suspected mpox cases have been recorded in Africa so far this year.

Reuters news agency reported that nearly 30,000 suspected mpox cases have been recorded across Africa so far this year, with the majority of these cases occurring in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where testing supplies have run out, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday.

The report from the UN health body also revealed that more than 800 people have died from suspected mpox during the same period. Additionally, the outbreak has affected Congo's neighboring country, Burundi, which has seen a growing number of cases.

Mpox, a disease that can be transmitted through close contact, is usually mild but can be fatal in rare cases. Common symptoms include flu-like conditions and pus-filled lesions on the body.

The WHO’s statement did not include comparative figures from previous years. However, the African Union’s public health agency noted that in 2023, 14,957 cases and 739 deaths were reported from seven affected countries, representing a 78.5% increase in new cases compared to 2022.

In terms of combating the outbreak, the WHO report highlighted that from January to September 15 of this year, there were 29,342 suspected cases and 812 deaths across Africa.

Globally, the WHO recorded 2,082 confirmed cases in August alone, marking the highest number of cases since November 2022.

In response to the outbreak, the World Bank’s pandemic fund announced on Saturday that it would allocate $128.89 million to support ten African countries in their efforts to combat the spread of mpox.