The spread of mpox in the Horn of Africa and in the eastern and southern parts of the continent has increased the risk of infection for migrants, the UN warned on Wednesday. International Organization for Migration (IOM), asking the donor community for $18.5 million to respond to the expected increase in cases of the disease.
Migrants and other marginalized and mobile populations, such as those uprooted from their homes by natural emergencies and conflicts, are much more likely to contract the infection due to poor living conditions and the barriers they often encounter in seeking help, IOM said.
“The spread of MPOX in the Horn of Africa and Eastern and Southern Africa is of grave concern, especially for vulnerable migrants, highly mobile populations and displaced communities who are often overlooked in such crises,” said Amy Pope, IOM Director General, adding that swift action is needed “to protect those most at risk and mitigate the impact of this outbreak in the region.”
MPOX has been affecting the population of the African continent for more than a decade, according to the UN agency, which points out that the Horn of Africa and Eastern and Southern Africa region hosts 12.2 million international migrants, almost half of all migrants from Africa.
When citing data from the World Health Organization (WHO), IOM said that as of 8 August, of the 12 African countries that had reported outbreaks, six were from those regions. Since July, new cases have appeared in previously unaffected Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda, pointing to a Cross-border infection as a factor in the spread of the disease.
Strengthening prevention and control at border crossings
IOM’s appeal aims to support infection prevention, control and response measures, especially at border crossings. It will also help fund awareness-raising activities among migrant and host communities, as well as internally displaced people in thirteen countries: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
“This preparedness and response plan aims to prepare for and respond to the anticipated increase in MPOX cases and to mitigate the spread and potential negative effects of MPOX in the region,” the agency explained.
IOM noted that the region’s role as a “hub of origin, destination and transit” for migrants could make it difficult to prevent the disease, adding that plans are in place to further strengthen the capacity of national health personnel and frontline response teams, while enabling the identification of high-risk areas to ensure effective monitoring of the disease and reduce its spread from one country to another.
Healthcare for vulnerable populations
“Vulnerable populations, such as migrants and internally displaced persons affected by MPOX, or at risk of becoming so, must receive the necessary health care and protection, especially in regions where access to these services is limited and where there are high numbers of migrants and displaced populations,” IOM stressed in a statement.
The agency’s call comes a week after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern following the rapid spread of a new strain of the disease known as clade 1b from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Clade 1b It is transmitted mainly through sexual contactalthough the WHO clarified on Tuesday that more research is needed into other possible routes of infection from the blisters associated with the disease, such as contaminated bedding.
The latest data from the UN health agency show more than 15,000 suspected cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including 537 deaths, to date. The global total of mpox cases exceeds 100,000.
The disease is known to be transmitted from animals to humans and is spread through close contact with infected people or animals through respiratory droplets, blood, body fluids or injuriesSymptoms include fever, rash, headaches, sore throat, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and back pain.
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