By Mabinty M. Kamara
The recent suspected case of the Monkeypox virus dubbed Mpox from a 32-year-old-man in Kono district, eastern Sierra Leone according to the Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, has been tested negative of the viral disease which was recently declared by the Africa Center for Disease Control (CDC) as an African Health emergency.
“The deceased patient tested negative for M-pox at both the national public health lab and the Chinese labs. Clinical presentation looks like M-pox or some other pox virus. We are exploring other aetiologies,” the minister told Politico.
The National Public Health Agency in an update dated 20 of August 2024, announced that the Kono District Surveillance Office was notified of a suspected Mpox case by Dr. Aliyu via phone call for which they immediately went into action.
“The Rapid Response Team visited the Dorma Wellbodi Clinic, where they met with Dr. Aliyu, who handed over the case for investigation. The case was a 32-year-old man from Makong Village, Konikay Sanda Chiefdom, Tonkolili District, who had been brought to the clinic with widespread rash on his body,” the report reads.
The case, according to the report, presented symptoms such as fever, lesions, red raised bumps, pus-filled blisters, muscle pain, headache, joint pain, and weakness.
It added that the symptoms started on August 12, 2024, after he returned from his farm, adding that the deceased had initially sought treatment at the Makonte MCHP and Makalli CHP in Tonkolili District, “but his condition continued to worsen. The case confirmed that he normally hunts rodents with no travel history to the neighboring chiefdoms or community in the past three weeks. Samples were then collected for testing while the two identified close contacts were quarantined.
The declaration of the Disease as a health emergency for Africa on the 14th of August this year, according to a Press statement from the center will enable the mobilization of resources across affected countries, unlocking essential funding, strengthening Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE), boosting surveillance and laboratory testing efforts, and enhancing human resource capacities to respond effectively to Mpox through a One Health approach.
Africa’s CDC Director- General, Dr. Jean Kaseya is quoted in the statement to have emphasized the urgency of swift and decisive action: “Today, we declare this PHECS to mobilize our institutions, our collective will, and our resources to act—swiftly and decisively. This empowers us to forge new partnerships, strengthen our health systems, educate our communities, and deliver life-saving interventions where they are needed most. There is no need for travel restrictions at this time.”
The statement noted that at least 13 African countries, including previously unaffected nations like Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, have reported Mpox outbreaks. “So far in 2024, these countries have confirmed 2,863 cases and 517 deaths, primarily in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Suspected cases across the continent have surged past 17,000, a significant increase from 7,146 cases in 2022 and 14,957 cases in 2023. This is just the tip of the iceberg when we consider the many weaknesses in surveillance, laboratory testing and contact tracing.”
Dr Kaseya said the disease has since May 2022 and July 2023 been declared by the World Health Organisation as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern but that Africa did not get the required support from the international community. He therefore emphasized the need for a change in approach: “We urge our international partners to seize this moment to act differently and collaborate closely with Africa CDC to provide the necessary support to our Member States.”
Monkeypox according to health authorities is a viral zoonotic disease that is transmitted from animals to humans with symptoms such as fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes, among others. Transmission is possible through close contacts with an infected person or animal or contaminated materials. Good hygiene practices including frequent hand washing are therefore advised.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (21/08/24)
