Mpox, a zoonotic disease tracing its origins to 1958, has garnered significant global attention, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the Mpox epidemic a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on July 23, 2022—the seventh such declaration in history. This contagious disease spreads through close contacts, featuring key symptoms such as fever, chills, headaches, weariness, asthenia, lymph node swellings, back pain, and myalgia. Notably, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) stands among the top 10 countries globally grappling with a substantial number of Mpox cases within the ongoing multi-country outbreak. Between January 1 and November 12, 2023, a staggering 12,569 suspected Mpox cases, including 581 suspected Mpox-related deaths (with a case fatality ratio of 4.6%), were documented across 156 health zones in 22 out of 26 provinces in DRC. This commentary delves into the epidemiology of the Mpox outbreak in the DRC, explores transmission risk factors, addresses the challenges in Mpox control, and puts forth insightful recommendations to manage the Mpox outbreak in DRC and worldwide.

The Marburg virus, which is a member of the same virus family as the Ebola virus called Filoviridae, causes the severe infectious disease known as Marburg Virus Disease (MVD). Previously, different outbreaks of MVD have appeared in different African countries, including Ghana, Guinea, Uganda, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, and South Africa. For the first time, Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania are experiencing MVD outbreaks. A total of 15 laboratory-confirmed cases of MVD and 23 probable cases have been reported in Equatorial Guinea since the confirmation of the outbreak on 13 February 2023. The first MVD outbreak in the United Republic of Tanzania was formally confirmed by the Ministry of Health on March 21, 2023. As of 22 March, there were eight cases and five fatalities (case fatality ratio [CFR]: 62.5%). Due to the facts that Ebebiyin and Nsock Nsomo districts, the affected regions of Equatorial Guinea, borders Cameroon and Gabon, and Kagera region, the affected region of Tanzania, borders Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, there is fear of cross-border spread of MVD due to cross-border migrations, and this can be a great crisis in West and East Africa. Although there are currently outbreaks of MVD in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania, there is currently no proof of an epidemiological connection between the two outbreaks. The aim of this paper is to describe Marburg Virus Disease (MVD), describe its first outbreak in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania, explain the efforts being used and the challenges being faced in MVD mitigation, and recommend different measures to be taken to cope with the outbreak of MVD in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania.

Meningitis, a disease that commonly manifests in African meningitis belt, continues to be a public health problem as it is a fatal disease that leave survivors with long-term effects. Most cases of meningitis are due to bacterial and viral infection, although parasites, fungus, cancer, drugs, and immune disorders can rarely cause meningitis. Stiff neck, high temperature, light sensitivity, disorientation, headaches, and vomiting are the most typical symptoms of meningitis. Niger being in African meningitis belt, has been impacted by many meningitis outbreaks. Since 2015, a total of 20 789 cases and 1369 fatalities (CFR 6.6%) have been documented in Niger. In contrast to earlier seasons, the current outbreak of meningitis in Niger exhibits both an increase in the number of cases and a rise in the growth rate. A total of 559 instances of meningitis, including 18 fatalities (overall CFR 3.2%), were reported in the Zinder Region, southeast of Niger, from 1 November 2022 to 27 January 2023, compared to 231 cases reported from 1 November 2021 to 31 January 2022. In the current outbreak, the Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C (NmC) is responsible for the majority of laboratory confirmed cases (104/111; 93.7%). To organize the response to the pandemic, a global team from the WHO and other partners, including MSF and UNICEF, has been sent out in Niger. Even though there are many challenges in battle against meningitis in Niger, immunization, antibiotics administration and strong disease surveillance are recommended techniques to cope with the current meningitis outbreak in Niger.