The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has declared a public health emergency in relation to the ongoing outbreak of mpox – formerly known as monkeypox.
Dr Jean Kaseya, director general at the Africa CDC, said: “Today, we declare this Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) to mobilise our institutions, our collective will, and our resources to act – swiftly and decisively.”
“This empowers us to forge new partnerships, strengthen our health systems, educate our communities, and deliver life-saving interventions where they are needed most,” he added.
Surge in cases
To combat the outbreak, which has mainly affected the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Africa CDC has signed a partnership with the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, which was set up in September 2021 to help prepare for future pandemics and avoid mistakes made during Covid-19.
It has also signed an agreement with Bavarian Nordic to provide more than 215,000 doses of the MVA-BN vaccine, which is the only FDA and EMA-approved mpox vaccine. The National Institute for Health and Care Research announced in March that they were testing the efficacy of a mRNA mpox vaccine in a clinical trial sponsored by Moderna.
The move from the Africa CDC is a historic one as it marks the first time the agency has declared mpox a PHECS, although the World Health Organisation (WHO) had mpox earmarked as a public health emergency of international concern between May 2022 and July 2023.
At least 13 African countries have been impacted so far – this includes the previously unaffected nations of:
- Burundi
- Kenya
- Rwanda
- Uganda
In 2024, Africa CDC statistics indicate that the 13 countries have 2,863 confirmed cases and 517 deaths, with the DRC most affected. For the entire continent, cases are now north of 17,000, which is significantly more than the 7,146 cases recorded in 2022 and the 14,957 cases recorded last year.
‘Stand with us in this critical hour’
Calling on global partners, Dr Kaseya urged them to “seize the moment” and work with the Africa CDC to provide the necessary support for its member states.
He added: “We call on you to stand with us in this critical hour. Africa has long been on the frontlines in the fight against infectious diseases, often with limited resources. The battle against Mpox demands a global response. We need your support, expertise, and solidarity. The world cannot afford to turn a blind eye to this crisis.”
The news comes just days after WHO invited mpox vaccine manufacturers to submit expressions of interest for emergency use listing. This process helps expedite the availability of unlicensed products – like vaccines – in emergency situations. Manufacturers can submit data that shows their vaccines are safe effective, and suitable for the target populations.
Image credit: iStock
