African health officials say mpox infections on the continent have risen by 160 percent in 2024.
非洲卫生官员表示，2024年非洲大陆的猴痘感染病例增加了160%。
They expect the spread to continue, they say, as Africa lacks effective treatments or vaccines for the viral disease.他们称，由于非洲缺乏针对这种病毒性疾病的有效治疗方法或疫苗，因此预计这种疾病还会继续蔓延。The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that mpox, also known as monkeypox, has been identified in 10 African countries this year.非洲疾病控制和预防中心报告表示，今年在10个非洲国家发现了猴痘，也被称为猴天花。Burundi and Rwanda both reported the virus for the first time recently.New outbreaks were also declared this week in Kenya and Central African Republic.On Wednesday, Kenya's Health Ministry said it found mpox in a passenger traveling from Uganda to Rwanda at a border crossing in southern Kenya.周三，肯尼亚卫生部表示，在肯尼亚南部一个边境口岸，一名从乌干达前往卢旺达的旅客身上发现了猴痘。In a statement, the ministry said that a single mpox case was enough to require an outbreak declaration.在一份声明中，该部门表示，仅一个猴痘病例就足以能够宣布疫情爆发。The Africa CDC has reported more than 14,000 cases of the disease.非洲疾病预防控制中心报告了超过14000例该疾病病例。More than 96 percent of cases and deaths are in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Earlier this year, scientists reported the appearance of a new form of mpox in a Congolese mining town.今年早些时候，科学家报告了在刚果的一个矿业城镇出现了一种新形式的猴痘。They fear it might spread more easily among people.Mpox spreads through close contact with infected people, including sex.The Africa CDC said the mpox death rate is three percent.非洲疾病预防控制中心表示，猴痘的死亡率为百分之三。It said the rate "has been much higher on the African continent compared to the rest of the world."该中心称，该比率“在非洲大陆比世界其他地区高得多”。During the global mpox emergency in 2022, less than one percent of people infected with the virus died.在2022年全球猴痘紧急情况期间，感染该病毒的人中只有不到百分之一的人死亡。The version of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo could kill up to 10 percent of people infected, experts reported.专家报告称，在刚果民主共和国的猴痘病毒版本可能导致高达10%的感染者死亡。The center noted that both of the mpox cases in Rwanda had been in Congo before testing positive.该中心指出，卢旺达的两例猴痘病例在检测呈阳性之前都曾在刚果。A study of patients hospitalized from October to January in eastern Congo suggested that recent genetic changes in the virus were the result of ongoing spread in people.对刚果东部 10 月至 1 月期间住院病人的研究表明，病毒最近的基因变化是在人群中持续传播的结果。In earlier mpox outbreaks, patients suffered lesions mainly on the chest, hands and feet.在早期的猴痘疫情中，患者的病变主要出现在胸部、手部和脚部。The new form of mpox causes less severe symptoms and lesions mainly appear on the genitals.新形式的猴痘引起的症状较轻，病变主要出现在生殖器上。The Africa CDC said nearly 70 percent of cases in Congo are in children younger than 15.非洲疾病预防控制中心表示，刚果近70%的病例是15岁以下的儿童。That group also represents 85 percent of deaths from the disease.The agency said the number of deaths across the continent has jumped by 19 percent since last year.该机构表示，自去年以来，整个非洲大陆的死亡人数跃升了19%。The medical aid group Doctors Without Borders called the expanding mpox outbreak "worrying."医疗援助组织“无国界医生”称不断扩大的猴痘疫情“令人担忧”。It also said the disease has been found in camps for displaced people in Congo's North Kivu area, which shares a border with Rwanda.该组织还表示，这种疾病已经在刚果北基伍地区流浪者的营地中被发现，该地区与卢旺达接壤。Dr. Louis Massing is medical director for Congo at Doctors Without Borders.Massing said, "There is a real risk of explosion, given the huge population movements in and out."马辛说：“鉴于人口的大规模流动，存在着真正的爆发风险。”Mpox outbreaks in the West have been uncommon because of vaccines and treatments.But few treatments have been available in African countries including the Congo.但是在包括刚果在内的非洲国家，几乎没有可用的治疗方法。In May, the WHO said no donors had provided money to fight the spread of mpox.5 月，世卫组织表示，没有捐助者为抗击猴痘传播提供资金。The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations is an aid organization based in Norway.It recently announced the start of an mpox vaccine study in Congo and other African countries. It aims to learn if vaccine treatment given just after infection could prevent severity of the disease.最近，该组织宣布在刚果和其他非洲国家启动一项猴痘疫苗研究，以了解在感染后立即进行疫苗治疗是否能预防疾病的恶化。