Mpox infections are surging in 10 African countries this year. The number of cases in 2024 have increased by 160% over last year. The Democratic Republic of Congo accounts for the vast majority (96%) of the infections. However, Kenya, the Central African Republic (CAR) and Cote d’Ivoire have experienced new outbreaks in the past week. The 10 African countries combined have reported more than 14,000 cases in 2024. About 85% of deaths in Congo have been children younger than 15 years old. Mpox infected 32,000 Americans in 2023. Health officials are watching the movement of the virus closely as it has the potential to spread to the US, as it did in 2022/2023.
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