Senegal has confirmed a new case of Mpox in Dakar, raising fresh concern in the subregion despite progress in curbing the virus.
Health authorities reported that the patient, a foreign national who entered the country on August 19, was hospitalized at Fann Hospital on August 21 and later tested positive.
He is now in isolation in stable condition, with officials assuring that all necessary measures have been taken to prevent further spread.
The case comes weeks after a similar detection in neighboring Gambia, highlighting that the virus remains a threat more than a year after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a global public health emergency.
Since August 2024, African countries, with support from the WHO, Africa CDC, and partners, have expanded testing, strengthened surveillance, and rolled out targeted vaccinations.
The continent recorded more than 174,000 suspected cases and 50,000 confirmed cases last year, but recent data shows a 34.5% decline in weekly infections over the past six weeks.
Several countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, Angola, Gabon, Mauritius, and Zimbabwe, have gone over 42 days without reporting new cases, signaling steady progress.
However, limited vaccine access, lack of funding, stigma, and ongoing conflict in parts of the region continue to pose challenges in achieving full control.
