NAIROBI, Kenya: The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has declared a public health emergency over the escalating mpox outbreak across the continent, marking a significant response to the virus’s impact.
This declaration, announced by Africa CDC chief Jean Kaseya, highlights the urgent need for a coordinated and aggressive approach to combat the growing crisis.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, has been particularly devastating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the disease was first identified in humans in 1970. The outbreak has now affected several African nations, with the Africa CDC reporting 38,465 cases and 1,456 deaths as of early August 2024. Kaseya’s declaration reflects a shift towards proactive measures, emphasizing the need to mobilize resources and implement strategies to curb the disease’s spread.
This emergency declaration is unprecedented for the Africa CDC, which has only recently been empowered with continental security measures. It aims to galvanize support and funding, addressing criticisms of inadequate foreign aid and highlighting the need for greater self-reliance in epidemic response.
Boghuma Titanji, an assistant professor of medicine at Emory University, praised the declaration as a crucial step toward improved regional coordination and financial investment in outbreak management. Despite substantial international aid, there has been significant criticism over the response’s reliance on external support, which has often failed to enhance access to essential diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines in affected areas.
The Africa CDC’s announcement comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) is set to convene an emergency committee to consider declaring a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). This move would represent the highest level of global alert, complementing Africa CDC’s efforts.
In response to the crisis, the United States has contributed $17 million this year to support African countries in their mpox response efforts, reflecting international collaboration and concern. However, the situation remains challenging, with new strains of the virus, such as the Clade Ib subclade in the DRC, exacerbating the outbreak.
Mpox, transmitted from animals to humans and through close human contact, causes symptoms including fever, muscle aches, and skin lesions. The outbreak’s persistence underscores the critical need for enhanced health infrastructure and sustained global support to manage and eventually eradicate the disease.
