Africa CDC Calls for Immediate Action as Mpox Cases Surge Across the Continent
The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has raised alarm over the rising Mpox death toll, describing the situation as “unacceptable” and calling for immediate measures to boost cross-border surveillance and testing.
At a press briefing on Thursday, Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC, reported 107 deaths and 3,160 new cases within a single week, despite a joint response effort with the World Health Organization (WHO).
“This loss of life is too high. We cannot rely solely on confirmed cases to drive our response,” Kaseya emphasized, urging urgent action to ramp up testing and enhance surveillance across Africa.
Kaseya also announced plans to oversee the Mpox vaccine rollout in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in early October, where he will publicly receive the vaccine to reassure the public of its safety. The DRC, which has become the epicenter of the global outbreak, has recorded nearly 22,000 cases and over 700 deaths this year.
He noted that men currently show a 63% positivity rate, while children under 15 represent a 41% positivity rate, raising concerns about the spread among vulnerable populations. Kaseya also warned of the virus’ potential to transmit from mother to child during pregnancy.
Africa CDC’s six-month response plan, with a budget nearing $600 million, focuses on strengthening surveillance, improving laboratory capacity, and increasing community engagement. However, Kaseya cautioned that the vaccine supply may fall short of the three million doses required to end the outbreak in the DRC alone.
Several international partners, including the European Union and Japan, have pledged vaccine donations, but the timeline for delivery remains uncertain.
As the situation worsens, WHO has declared Mpox outbreaks in 12 African nations a global public health emergency. The virus has also been detected outside Africa, with cases reported in countries such as Pakistan, Sweden, and Thailand.
The need for swift action is urgent, Kaseya reiterated, calling on African nations to take greater ownership of their health security and bolster Mpox response efforts.
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