THE ESSENTIAL
- Dengue is a disease transmitted by the bite of a certain type of mosquito, there is no direct transmission between humans.
- Ebola is a virus transmitted to humans from wild animals but also between humans, from the biological fluids of patients such as saliva, urine, blood, etc.
Between 2012 and 2022, epidemics transmitted by animals to humans increased by 63% in Africa, compared to the previous decade between 2001 and 2011, according to theWorld Health Organization (WHO) . Among the epidemics of zoonoses – infectious diseases that pass from animals to humans – there is, of course, monkeypox, but also Ebola and Dengue fever.
Ebola, plague, dengue…
In detail, the health authority believes that “Ebola virus disease and other viral haemorrhagic fevers make up nearly 70% of these outbreaks, including dengue fever, anthrax, plague, monkeypox, and a range of other diseases making up the remaining 30%”.
Progression of monkeypox
With regard to monkeypox, WHO records 2,087 cases in Africa – of which only 203 were confirmed – between January 1 and July 8, 2022.”The overall case fatality rate for the 203 confirmed cases is 2.4%”, specifies the health authority. In general, this disease has been on the rise on the continent since 2017.
Population growth
To explain this increase in zoonoses epidemics, the WHO puts forward several reasons. First of all, the very high demographic growth in Africa and the fact that the inhabitants consume more and more foods derived from animals, such as meat, poultry, eggs or even milk.
Propagation accrue
Another explanation: urbanization. “Poor transport infrastructure (which existed until now in Africa) formed a natural barrierexplains Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. With improved transportation in Africa, the threat of zoonotic pathogens moving to major urban centers has increased. We must act now to stem zoonoses before they can cause widespread infections”. Indeed, the development of transport favors the spread of epidemics on the continent.
Identify the factors
To curb the development of zoonotic epidemics in Africa, the WHO therefore recommends continuing research to better identify the environmental, socio-economic and cultural factors that cause this increase… And thus be able to do more prevention with the populations.
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