Africa’s top public health authority, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), has declared a “public health emergency of continental security” in response to a rapidly spreading outbreak of mpox. The viral infection, which began in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has now extended to several neighboring countries, raising concerns about its potential impact on public health across the continent.
The announcement follows warnings from the Africa CDC last week regarding the troubling acceleration of mpox cases. The virus, which spreads through close contact, typically causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions filled with pus. Although most cases are mild, the virus can be deadly, particularly in vulnerable populations.
In a briefing that was broadcast live on Zoom, Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya emphasized the urgency of the situation. “We declare today this public health emergency of continental security to mobilize our institutions, our collective will, and our resources to act swiftly and decisively,” Kaseya stated. His call to action highlighted the need for immediate and coordinated efforts to control the outbreak and prevent further spread across the continent.
The current outbreak in Congo originated from an endemic strain of the virus known as Clade I. However, the new variant driving the recent surge in cases, identified as Clade Ib, appears to spread more easily through routine close contact, especially among children. This heightened transmissibility has led to a rapid increase in the number of cases and deaths reported in affected countries.
Kaseya underscored the critical need for vaccines to combat the outbreak, noting that Africa requires more than 10 million doses to protect its population. However, only around 200,000 doses are currently available, leaving a significant gap in the continent’s ability to respond effectively. “We have a clear plan to secure more than 10 million doses in Africa, starting with 3 million doses in 2024,” Kaseya assured, though he did not specify the sources of these vaccines.
The scale of the outbreak is alarming. So far this year, more than 15,000 cases of mpox and 461 related deaths have been reported across the continent. These figures represent a staggering 160% increase compared to the same period last year, reflecting the severity of the current situation. A total of 18 countries have now reported cases, further underscoring the widespread nature of the outbreak.
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, has been endemic in certain parts of Africa for decades. The virus was first identified in humans in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970. For years, it remained relatively contained, with sporadic outbreaks in specific regions. However, in 2022, a milder variant of the virus spread to more than 100 countries, largely through sexual contact. This global spread prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a public health emergency of international concern, marking the highest level of alert.
The WHO’s emergency declaration underscored the global threat posed by the virus. However, after 10 months, the organization ended the emergency status, stating that the situation had come under control. Despite this, the recent resurgence in Africa, driven by the more transmissible Clade Ib variant, has reignited fears of a broader health crisis.
In response to the growing threat, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a second health alert last week. This alert aimed to notify clinicians and health departments about the new, more deadly strain of mpox circulating in Africa. The CDC’s warning serves as a reminder of the potential global implications of the outbreak, particularly if the virus continues to spread beyond the continent.
Amid these developments, Africa CDC has been working to secure additional resources to support its response to the outbreak. Last week, the agency announced that it had received $10.4 million in emergency funding from the African Union. This funding will be critical in scaling up the continent’s efforts to contain the virus and mitigate its impact on public health.
The World Health Organization has also been closely monitoring the situation in Africa. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has pledged to convene an emergency committee to discuss whether the outbreak in Congo and its spread to neighboring countries warrants a renewed declaration of a public health emergency of international concern. Such a declaration would signal the severity of the crisis and could potentially mobilize additional international support to address the outbreak.
