In an unprecedented move, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security – the first since the agency’s inception in 2017.
“This empowers us to forge new partnerships, strengthen our health systems, educate our communities, and deliver life-saving interventions where they are needed most,” said Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya during an online media briefing late yesterday announcing the emergency, noting that currently, travel restrictions were not required.
The declaration, which will allow the organization to empower and coordinate resources in response to the Mpox outbreak, comes as 13 countries on the continent have reported cases, with the total exceeding 17,000, the majority being registered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). However, the actual numbers could be higher due to a lack of consistent contact tracing and surveillance in many regions.
The situation has also deteriorated in countries like Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda, where the virus has crossed borders, leading to an alarming rise in infections.
“This is not just another challenge; it’s a crisis that demands our collective action,” continued Kaseya.
Africa CDC’s declaration underscores the severity of the Mpox outbreak, with the number of cases skyrocketing by 160% in the past year alone. According to the latest CDC data as of August 4, 2024, there have been 38,465 cases of Mpox and 1,456 deaths in Africa since January 2022. Experts warn that the true scale of the outbreak might be far worse, given the gaps in monitoring and reporting systems across the continent.
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Background
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, belongs to the same family of viruses as smallpox. The virus has mutated into different clades, with the current outbreak predominantly linked to the Clade Ib subclade, which has spread rapidly across Central and Western Africa. The virus is transmitted through close physical contact, resulting in symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and large boil-like skin lesions.
In response to the crisis, Africa CDC has coordinated with international partners, including the European Commission and Bavarian Nordic, to secure 215,000 doses of the MVA-BN® vaccine, the only FDA and EMA-approved Mpox vaccine. This donation comes at a crucial time, as the continent grapples with the rapid spread of the virus and the limited availability of vaccines. The vaccine distribution will prioritize the most-affected regions, aiming to curb the spread of the virus and protect vulnerable populations.
Stella Kyriakides, the European Union Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, emphasized the importance of international cooperation in this effort in a press release announcing the donation earlier today: “Strong global partnerships are at the very core of our European Health Union. Health security threats know no borders and today… Preparedness and response to health threats is a global endeavour which we are determined to pursue collectively and with solidarity across borders.”
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