The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention classified the mpox outbreak that has now spread to 15 nations as a continental public health emergency, the first such declaration in its history.
What's new: The Africa CDC's declaration of a "Public Health Emergency of Continental Security," or PHECS, on Tuesday recognizes the surge of mpox cases across Africa this year. "I declare with a heavy heart, but with an unyielding commitment to our poeple, to our African citizens, we declare mpox as a public health emergency of continental security," Africa CDC's Director Dr. Jean Kaseya told journalists during a Zoom briefing.
What's next: The World Health Organization plans to convene an emergency committee of experts on Wednesday to determine if the mpox outbreak in Africa is a global public health emergency. The committee will advise WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and offer recommendations on managing the spread of the disease.
What's important: The declaration is intended to boost coordination between Africa CDC and member nations, and accelerate R&D of diagnostics and vaccines. Kaseya says the mpox outbreak is not just another challenge, but a crisis. "It is a virus that exploits our vulnerabilities, preying on our weakest point," he says. "This declaration is not merely a formality, it's a clarion call to action. It's a recognition that we can no longer afford to be reactive, we must be proactive."
Who's involved: WHO is inviting manufacturers of mpox vaccines to apply for an emergency license that would allow Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF and other international organizations to procure and distribute shots. “The priority is to rapidly interrupt the transmission of the virus," said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO's Regional Director for Africa. "We’re collaborating with partners in support of countries to reinforce outbreak control measures and ensure that communities are central to ongoing efforts to effectively end these outbreaks."
What's happening now: Among the 15 countries reporting an mpox outbreak, four previously unaffected countries – Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda – reported mpox cases since mid-July 2024. In all, a total of 2030 confirmed cases and 13 deaths have been reported in Africa so far this year, up from 1145 cases and seven deaths in 2023. Congo accounts for more than 90% of the reported cases, which involve a new variant. Despite the new mpox cases in countries that didn't have any before, Africa CDC is refraining from calling for travel or trade restrictions. "The movement of people and goods will continue," Kaseya says.
