Africa CDC did not sit in its office and make a declaration. No, it was a consultative process.
Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), has officially declared mpox a public health emergency of continental concern.
“We have faced pandemics, various outbreaks, natural disasters and conflict. Yet to every adversity we have risen, not as fragmented nations, but as one Africa, resilient, resourceful and resilient. Today, as we confront mpox, we must summon that same spirit of solidarity,” Kaseya said.
The Director General noted that mpox is not just an African issue. Instead, he described mpox as a global threat, one that knows no boundaries, no race or creed. “It is a virus that exploit our vulnerabilities going on our weakest point, and it is in this moment of vulnerability that we must find our greatest style and demonstrate that we are all learning from the covid lesson, and we are playing solidarity,” the director-general added.
As of 4 August 2024, all five regions and 16 countries in Africa have reported mpox cases, with six countries newly affected in the past ten days and 18 countries at risk.
Since January 2022, Africa has recorded 38,465 mpox cases and 1,456 deaths. The situation has worsened significantly in 2024, with the number of cases in the first half of the year already 160% higher compared to the same period in 2023. Last week alone, there were 887 new cases and five new deaths, bringing the total for the year to 15,132 cases and 461 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 3.0%.
Recent outbreaks in Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, and Uganda mark the first-ever reported cases in these countries, indicating the virus’s expanding geographical reach. Key drivers of transmission include cross-border movement, sexual transmission, and healthcare-seeking behaviors. The virus’s incubation period ranges from 5 to 21 days, complicating efforts to control its spread.
In Côte d’Ivoire, the Ministry of Health declared an outbreak after identifying two cases. Similarly, Kenya reported its first case involving a long-distance truck driver, and Uganda reported two cases imported from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The high fatality rate, especially among children under 15 who account for 60% of the cases, underscores the severity of the outbreak. Increased cross-border movements and potential virus mutations leading to new transmission routes, such as sexual transmission, elevate the risk. Moreover, the unavailability of vaccines and treatment kits hampers control measures.