Senegal has reported a second case of Mpox just weeks after announcing the recovery of its first patient and declaring zero active infections.
The latest case involves a Senegalese resident who developed symptoms on September 11 and was hospitalized at Fann Hospital in Dakar on September 21. A laboratory test confirmed the infection the following day.
Health authorities have identified 20 contacts linked to the patient but said no connection has been established between this case and the country’s earlier infection involving a foreign national diagnosed in August.
Officials have assured the public that measures are in place to contain the disease and urged vigilance while advising residents to seek medical attention if symptoms appear.
The resurgence comes as Africa records an overall decline in Mpox cases, according to the Africa CDC. Since January 2024, 29 African countries have reported more than 191,000 infections and nearly 2,000 deaths, but weekly cases have dropped by 70% since May. Senegal’s first Mpox case was confirmed on August 22, shortly after a case was reported in neighboring Gambia.
Meanwhile, the continent is also grappling with a new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where 48 cases—including 38 confirmed and 31 deaths—have been reported in Kasai province.
