Africa CDC Poised to Declare ‘Continental Emergency’ Amid Mpox Surge

Alarmed by the rapid spread of mpox, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is preparing to declare a “public health emergency of continental security.” The declaration, expected as early as next week, marks an unprecedented move by the agency in response to a surge in mpox cases primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other East African nations. The virus has resulted in over 14,000 cases and 511 deaths in the DRC this year, with children under 18 making up the majority of those affected. This alarming trend has been exacerbated by the lack of smallpox vaccination, which ceased after the eradication of smallpox in 1980, and widespread malnutrition among children in the region.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus, and the disease is characterized by symptoms similar to smallpox, though generally less severe. These symptoms include a painful rash that often starts on the face and spreads to other parts of the body, fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and exhaustion. Mpox was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) on July 23, 2022. This declaration came in response to a significant and unprecedented rise in cases across multiple countries outside of the traditionally endemic regions in Africa,  and more recently including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, where around 50 confirmed cases and more suspected cases have been reported. Dr. Jean Kaseya, director general of Africa CDC, emphasized the urgency of the situation, highlighting the need for swift international support to avoid a repeat of the COVID-19 response shortcomings. The African Union granted Africa CDC the authority to declare public health emergencies in 2023, enabling the agency to take decisive action. “We are losing the youth in Africa,” Dr. Kaseya warned, stressing the critical need for vaccines and international cooperation to combat the outbreak.

The 2022 WHO’s declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) underscored the need for coordinated international action to control the outbreak and prevent further spread. Meanwhile, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health alert regarding mpox and pledged substantial financial aid to support efforts in the DRC and neighboring countries. The U.S. has committed nearly $424 million for ongoing health crises in the DRC and an additional $10 million specifically for the mpox response, including 50,000 vaccine doses. Despite these efforts, Africa CDC’s Dr. Kaseya emphasized the vast need for vaccines, estimating a requirement of at least 10 million doses to effectively curb the outbreak.