The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have declared a public health emergency in response to the ongoing Mpox outbreak, which has rapidly spread across Africa.
“Mpox has now crossed borders, affecting thousands of people across our continent. I announce, with a heavy heart but with an unwavering commitment to our people, to our African citizens, that we are declaring Mpox a public health emergency,” said Jean Kaseya, Director of the Africa CDC, during an online press conference on Tuesday.
According to the CDC, as of August 4, Africa had recorded 38,465 Mpox cases and 1,456 deaths since January 2022.
The Mpox virus spreads through close contact, causing rashes, flu-like symptoms, and pus-filled lesions. While most cases are mild, the disease can be fatal, particularly for children, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
Faced with the escalating number of cases, Kaseya emphasised that this declaration is not just symbolic but a call to action.
“It recognises that we can no longer afford to be reactive. We must be proactive and aggressive in our efforts to contain and eliminate this threat.”
Last week, the Africa CDC raised alarms over the rapid spread of the viral infection, noting that more than 15,000 cases and 461 deaths had been reported on the continent since the start of the year—a 160 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
Kaseya urged global partners to stand with Africa during this critical time.
“Africa has long been a frontline in the battle against infectious diseases, often bearing this burden with limited resources. But the fight against Mpox requires a global response. We need your support, your expertise, and your solidarity. The world cannot afford to turn a blind eye to this crisis.”
He also highlighted the lack of adequate international support during the initial phases of the Mpox outbreak.
“From May 2022 to July 2023, Mpox was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), but Africa didn’t receive appropriate support. When cases subsided in other parts of the world, there was silence on the rising cases in Africa. We call upon our international partners to act differently and work closely with Africa CDC to provide appropriate support to our Member States.”
Kaseya announced that a joint response plan, developed from country-specific strategies, would be available within the next two weeks. Additionally, he signed a tripartite agreement between Africa CDC, the European Union’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), and Bavarian Nordic for the procurement and rapid distribution of 200,000 doses of vaccines across Africa.
Meanwhile, WHO also declared Mpox a public health emergency of international concern on Wednesday, following a recommendation from the emergency committee.
“Today, the Emergency Committee met and advised me that the situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during a media briefing.
In the United States, there have been 1,634 reported cases of Mpox this year, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although Mpox is endemic in parts of Central and Western Africa, cases have risen dramatically in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
This year alone, the DRC has reported more than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths.
There are two types of Mpox: clade I and clade II. Clade I, which has caused localised outbreaks in the DRC for years, includes a variant known as clade Ib, which appears to spread mainly through sexual contact and is believed to be driving the current outbreak in the DRC.
“The detection and rapid spread of a new clade of Mpox in eastern DRC, its detection in neighbouring countries that had not previously reported Mpox, and the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is very worrying,” Dr. Tedros warned during the briefing.
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