Nigeria has postponed its planned vaccination campaign in the wake of a rise in Mpox cases by 500 per cent in Africa compared to last year.

According to new data released Thursday by Africa?s main disease control centre (Africa CDC) on Thursday, ?The situation is not yet under control, we are still on the upward trend generally,? said Ngashi Ngongo from Africa CDC during a news briefing.

?Mauritius has become the 19thcountry affected by the current #Mpox outbreak, while #Nigeria postpones its planned vaccination campaign. Vaccination rates in #DRC and #Rwanda have been at least 100%, but access to child-friendly vaccines remains a pressing challenge. Since January 2024, confirmed Mpox cases have surged by 500% compared to 2023,? it said in the statement.

The group did not, however, state why Nigeria postponed the already planned vaccination campaign.

In the wake of the outbreak, the World Health Organisation declared Mpox a global health emergency in mid-August after scientists discovered a new version of the virus spreading from the Democratic Republic of Congo to nearby countries.

The numbers are concerning: 19 African countries have reported over 48,000 possible Mpox cases and 1,048 deaths this year alone. Central Africa has been hit hardest, with about 86% of all cases and nearly all deaths (99.5%) happening in that region.

?We need to continue mobilising the political engagement and also mobilizing the financial support that is critical to get the current outbreak under control,? Ngongo said.

?We do not want this Mpox, especially the clade 1b, to become another sexually transmitted pandemic, which would be much more severe than COVID-19.?

People can catch the virus through close contact with others, including during sex.

Scientists have identified its new strain, known as clade Ib, in several European countries including Sweden, Germany, and Britain. (Channels TV)