The risk of zoonotic pathogen outbreaks, like the monkeypox virus, which first infected animals before switching to people, is rising in Africa.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) analysis, there have been 63 percent more zoonotic outbreaks in the region in the ten years from 2012 to 2022 than there were in the years from 2001 to 2011.
According to the data, there were 1843 verified public health occurrences reported in the WHO African area between 2001 and 2022.
Among these incidents, zoonotic disease outbreaks made up 30% of the total.
Despite the fact that these figures have risen over the past 20 years, there was a noteworthy uptick in 2019 and 2020, when zoonotic infections accounted for about 50% of all public health incidents.
Nearly 70% of these outbreaks are caused by the Ebola virus disease and other viral hemorrhagic fevers, with the remaining 30% being caused by dengue fever, anthrax, plague, monkeypox, and various other illnesses.
According to the most recent data on monkeypox, incidences have significantly increased since April 2022 when compared to the same time in 2021.
The increase is primarily seen in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nigeria, and although further investigations are ongoing, it may in part be related to the countries’ improved capability for monkeypox surveillance and laboratory testing.
When compared to 2020, when the region reported its greatest monthly instances of monkeypox, this upward trend is still less pronounced.
Monkeypox cases have generally been increasing since 2017, with the exception of 2021, when there was a sharp decline.
There were a total of 2087 monkeypox cases from 1 January to 8 July 2022, although only 203 of those cases were confirmed.
For the 203 confirmed cases, the overall case fatality rate is 2.4 percent. 53 percent of the 175 confirmed cases for which case-specific information is available were male, and the median age was 17.
There could be a number of causes for the rise in zoonotic cases.
Africa’s population is expanding at the fastest rate in the world, and there is a rising need for food made from animals, such as meat, poultry, eggs, and milk.
In addition to increased urbanization and encroachment on wildlife habitats, population growth is also causing these issues.
As connections by land, sea, air, and road are improved throughout Africa, there is a greater chance that zoonotic disease epidemics will spread from rural areas with few residents to major cities.
When zoonotic illnesses enter cities, there can be a devastating number of deaths and cases, as we have seen with the West African Ebola epidemics.
“Human illnesses that started in animals have been spreading to humans for centuries, but the risk of widespread infections and fatalities was very low in Africa.
As a natural obstacle, a lack of adequate transportation infrastructure, according to Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa “However, there is a greater risk of zoonotic infections traveling to major urban centers as a result of improved transportation in Africa.
We must take immediate action to halt zoonotic diseases from spreading and preventing Africa from becoming a hub for newly developing infectious illnesses.
It is challenging to stop the spread of zoonotic diseases in Africa, and the WHO suggests a one-health strategy that calls for cooperation among numerous industries, academic fields, and local populations.
This comprises a wide spectrum of specialists, including those engaged in environmental, animal, and human health work.
Epidemiologists and other public health professionals should exchange routine disease surveillance data and response activities for both animal and human health.
To better understand the factors that influence the impact and spread of epidemics, such as immune status, nutrition, genetics, and antimicrobial resistance, more research is also required to pinpoint the environmental, socioeconomic, and cultural factors that promote the emergence and transmission of epidemic-prone diseases.
To prevent and control zoonotic diseases like Ebola, monkeypox, and even other corona viruses, Dr. Moeti added, “We need all hands on deck.
“Zoonotic diseases are brought on by animal-to-human transmission events.
We cannot effectively address all facets of the reaction until we tear down the barriers across disciplines.
Since 2008, the World Organization for Animal Health (WoAH) has improved its regional cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health to assist initiatives to combat zoonotic epidemics across Africa.
In the most recent Ebola outbreak, which has just ended in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the three agencies collaborated.
Today’s virtual press conference featured remarks by Dr. Moeti.
Dr. Karim Tounkara, the regional representative for Africa for the World Organization for Animal Health, and Dr. Franklin Asiedu Bekoe, the director of public health for the Ghana Health Service, were present with her (OIE).
Dr. Opeayo Ogundiran, Epidemiology Pillar Lead for the Regional COVID-19 Response, Dr. Charles Okot Lukoya, Epidemiologist, Dr. Pamela Mitula, Routine Epidemiology and New Vaccine Officer, Dr. Tieble Traore, Technical Officer, and Dr. Solomon Woldetsadik, Emergency Response Officer were also present from the WHO Regional Office for Africa to answer questions.
Distributed on behalf of the WHO Regional Office for Africa by APO Group.