Africa is facing an alarming increase in mpox cases, prompting the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to announce a comprehensive response plan in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).
The joint continental plan, spanning from September 2024 to February 2025, is backed by a substantial budget of nearly $600 million. Of this, 55 percent is dedicated to targeted mpox response initiatives in the most affected countries, while the remaining 45 percent supports operational and technical efforts through various partner organizations.
Since the beginning of 2024, Africa has reported a total of 24,851 suspected mpox cases, with 5,549 confirmed cases and 643 fatalities, according to Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, during an online press briefing.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains the epicenter of the outbreak, responsible for 90 percent of the reported cases. Specifically, the DRC has documented 20,463 suspected cases and 635 deaths.
Kaseya highlighted that the upward trend in mpox cases is spreading across the continent, impacting at least 14 countries since May 2024. In a concerning development, Guinea has confirmed its first mpox case, with genetic sequencing underway to determine if the more virulent clade 1b variant has reached West Africa.
Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, emphasized the necessity of a unified approach to contain the outbreak in the DRC. She underscored the importance of the Africa CDC-WHO joint response plan in mobilizing resources, enhancing expertise, and swiftly curbing the virus's spread.
In mid-August, the WHO declared the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa a public health emergency of international concern, citing the emergence of the more dangerous clade 1b variant first detected in the DRC in September 2023. This variant has since been reported in countries including Sweden and Thailand.
To address the crisis, the DRC has received its initial shipment of 99,100 mpox vaccine doses and is currently devising a distribution and vaccination strategy, particularly focusing on the eastern region where most cases have emerged amid a prolonged humanitarian crisis. However, health authorities have yet to announce the commencement date for the vaccination campaign.
Reference(s):
Africa CDC warns of rising mpox cases, launches response plan with WHO
cgtn.com
