Morocco Reports First Mpox Case in North Africa Amid Emergency

Morocco has recorded its first case of mpox in the tourist city of Marrakesh, marking the first occurrence in North Africa since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an international emergency last month, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"Africa CDC confirms the first mpox case in North Africa for 2024, as reported by Morocco's Ministry of Health on 12th September," a statement from the CDC's website said on Thursday.

With the addition of Morocco, 15 African Union member states have now reported cases of mpox, with the disease present across all regions of the continent, according to Africa CDC.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is caused by a virus that is transmitted to humans from infected animals but can also spread between humans through close physical contact. The virus can sometimes be fatal, with symptoms including fever, muscle pain, and large skin lesions resembling boils.

The patient, a 32-year-old from Marrakesh, tested positive and is currently receiving treatment, the Africa CDC stated.

Moroccan authorities have launched emergency operations, deployed a rapid response team, and commenced epidemiological investigations and contact tracing, the statement added.

Morocco's Ministry of Health confirmed that the patient is being treated at a specialised medical facility in Marrakesh and is in a stable condition that is not currently a cause for concern.

No symptoms have been detected in any of the patient's contacts so far, the ministry reported.

The World Health Organization declared an international emergency on 14th August, alarmed by a rise in cases of the new Clade 1b strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has since spread to nearby countries.

According to Africa CDC data, the majority of cases are in Central Africa. Since the beginning of the year, 26,544 cases have been reported across 15 affected countries, of which 5,732 have been confirmed. There have been 724 reported deaths.