IN the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Africa is now grappling with its most significant health crisis: a widespread Mpox outbreak. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has declared a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) as cases surge across the continent.
From January to August 23, 2024, 21,466 cases and 591 deaths have been reported across 13 African Union Member States, with a case fatality rate of 2.9%. This represents a staggering 160% increase compared to the previous year.
This is the picture that Dr Jean Kesaya, Director-General of the Africa CDC, outlined in a special communique to African Health Ministers since the outbreak of the Mpox.
Dr Kesay said the outbreak of M-pox posed a number of serious challenges to African nations. These included:
- Limited domestic resources: Many countries struggle to allocate sufficient funds for outbreak response and prevention.
- Vaccine approval delays: Only three African countries – Nigeria, South Africa, and the Democratic Republic of Congo – have approved the use of Mpox vaccines, hindering widespread immunization efforts.
- Inadequate public awareness: Communication activities to educate the population about the disease and promote vaccine acceptance remain suboptimal.
- Global vaccine competition: With Western nations increasing their demand for vaccines and limited manufacturing capacity, Africa risks being overlooked in the distribution of crucial medical countermeasures.
- Cross-border transmission: The virus continues to spread to previously non-endemic countries, complicating containment efforts.
- Diagnostic limitations: Some countries report testing rates as low as 18%, indicating a severe lack of diagnostic capabilities.
- Surveillance gaps: Inadequate surveillance systems lead to underdetection and underreporting of cases.
- Potential travel restrictions: Some Western countries have hinted at imposing travel restrictions on Africa if leaders and communities do not address the outbreak more aggressively.
Dr. Kaseya has outlined the following crucial next steps:
- Developing response and preparedness plans: The African Incident Management Team, comprising various international health organizations, will work with all countries to create updated response plans for affected nations and preparedness plans for at-risk countries.
- Vaccine distribution and acceptance: Support will be provided to affected countries through vaccine donations, ensuring regulatory approval, establishing supply chain logistics, and promoting vaccine acceptance through communication campaigns.
- Regular ministerial meetings: Bi-weekly meetings with health ministers will be initiated to provide strategic discussions and guidance.
- High-level engagement: Africa CDC is working to organize a meeting involving heads of state and high-level partners to address the outbreak at the highest political level.
Said Dr Kesaya: “Support will be provided for affected countries with the donation of vaccines already secured. We need to ensure that regulatory authorities agree to use the vaccine, the supply chain logistics are in place, and communication activities are ongoing to ensure acceptance of the vaccines by the targeted population.”
As the continent mobilizes to confront this growing health crisis, the success of these measures will depend on coordinated efforts between African nations, international partners, and local communities. The coming weeks and months will be crucial in determining the trajectory of the Mpox outbreak and its impact on public health across Africa.
