Morocco has confirmed its first case of Mpox in the tourist city of Marrakesh, marking the first reported case in North Africa since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an international emergency last month, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) announced on Friday.
“Africa CDC confirms the first Mpox case in North Africa for 2024, reported by Morocco’s Ministry of Health on September 12,” the CDC stated on its website.
This brings the total number of African Union member states with Mpox cases to 15, with the virus now present across every region of the continent.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease transmitted from infected animals to humans, though it can also spread through close human contact. The virus causes fever, muscle aches, and large, boil-like skin lesions and can be deadly in severe cases.
The 32-year-old patient from Marrakesh has tested positive and is currently receiving treatment, according to Africa CDC. In response, Moroccan authorities have activated emergency operations, deployed a rapid response team, and initiated contact tracing and epidemiological investigations.
The Moroccan health ministry also confirmed that the patient is being treated at a specialized medical center in Marrakesh and is in stable condition. No symptoms have been reported in individuals who came into contact with the patient, the ministry added.
The WHO declared an international emergency on August 14 due to a surge in cases of the new Clade 1b strain of Mpox, which has spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo to nearby countries.
Africa CDC reports indicate that the majority of cases are concentrated in Central Africa. Since the beginning of 2024, 26,544 cases have been reported across 15 affected African nations, with 5,732 confirmed cases and 724 deaths.
