Good Progress, In Latest WHO Situation Report, On Mpox Arrest -- Inside Africa -- But Burundi, DRC, Sierra Leone And Uganda Remain Of Concern...

On Friday, the World Health Organization updated its official periodic report on the state of Mpox Clade 1b inside Africa.

The rates of spread are declining. But with internal country conflict acting as a damper on public health efforts there, DRC remains a geography of high concern. [It is also notable that Japan, Kuwait and Senegal have each now seen first Clade 1b cases -- from travelers returning from African visits, into Japan and Kuwait. Obviously, the Senegalese case is an on-continent event.]

I've updated the graphic at right from last month -- to reflect the overall improving picture. And here is the full pdf of the most recent WHO situation report (this is the 58^th such report):

. . .Mpox continues to circulate, especially in Africa where over 90% of cases are reported, and flare-ups remain possible everywhere. Vulnerable groups, particularly children, pregnant women and people living with HIV, continue to face higher risks for severe disease and death. Surveillance, diagnostics, community engagement, and response capacity must therefore be maintained. . . .

Since the last edition of this report, one country, Kuwait, has reported mpox for the first time; genomic sequencing analysis identified clade IIb MPXV. Japan and Senegal have reported cases of mpox due to clade Ib MPXV for the first time. . . .

It cannot be repeated often enough: this is a conscious decision, by Trump / Vance / Rubio / Kennedy. . . to end the lives of thousands of vulnerable Africans -- where even just a year ago, we provided the tools. . . to cure them (along with EU and WHO and UN resources -- but with the scuttling of USAID, we've turned our back, on their suffering). Dammit.

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