The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a comprehensive continent-wide response plan on Friday to tackle the ongoing outbreak of mpox across Africa.
This joint initiative aims to strengthen and accelerate the efforts of African countries to combat the virus, curb its spread, and protect lives. The response plan will commence this month and run through February next year, with an estimated budget of close to $600 million.
The announcement comes three weeks after the WHO declared the spread of the new strain of mpox a public health emergency of international concern. The response plan underscores the urgency of the situation and focuses on critical areas such as surveillance, laboratory testing, community engagement, and readiness for rapid response to new cases. According to Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa CDC, the initiative seeks to address the escalating number of cases and fatalities and support countries that are at risk.
Of the total budget, 55% of the funds will be allocated to the 14 countries currently with registered mpox cases, and to boost readiness in 15 additional countries that are at high risk. The remaining 45% will be directed toward providing operational and technical support through partnerships. However, Africa CDC did not specify the sources of funding for the initiative.
“We have classified countries based on their degree of risk, where there is intense spread, as is happening in eastern DRC, and other places where there is transmission happening,” said WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti. “And then right down to countries where we are working very much on building the preparedness and readiness to address cases if they appear, as has happened in Guinea.”
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been hit hardest by the outbreak, accounting for 91% of the 5,549 confirmed mpox cases reported across the continent since the start of 2024. Most of the infections in the DRC and Burundi, the second most affected country, are in children under the age of 15. This represents a sharp increase in both infections and fatalities compared to previous years, with 643 deaths linked to the virus reported so far this year.
The plan also focuses on strengthening surveillance systems to detect new cases early, enhancing laboratory testing capabilities, and fostering community engagement to raise awareness and encourage preventive measures. Dr. Kaseya highlighted that vaccines alone are not sufficient to control the outbreak and that a multifaceted approach is needed to combat the spread of the virus effectively.
The Africa CDC and WHO’s initiative will also prioritize developing country-specific action plans to manage and control the spread of mpox. This includes identifying hotspots of infection, creating containment strategies, and bolstering healthcare facilities and response teams. The plan emphasizes the importance of early detection, rapid response, and the mobilization of community health workers to support affected areas.
The response plan recognizes the unique challenges faced by different countries and tailors its strategies to address these specific needs. For instance, in countries like the DRC and Burundi, where children are disproportionately affected, the focus will be on pediatric care, improving access to treatments, and implementing child-focused prevention campaigns. In contrast, in countries where cases have not yet been detected or are minimal, efforts will be directed towards increasing preparedness and establishing robust early warning systems.
The WHO and Africa CDC are also calling on international donors and partners to support the response plan. This support will be crucial to ensure the necessary resources are available to fully implement the plan across the continent. The organizations are engaging with global health partners, governments, and private sectors to secure the needed funding and technical expertise to enhance response capacities in affected and at-risk countries.
Moreover, the initiative aims to foster collaboration among African countries to share best practices and strengthen regional coordination in managing the outbreak. By pooling resources and expertise, the response plan seeks to build a stronger, more resilient health infrastructure across the continent, capable of handling current and future health crises.
The joint response plan reflects the urgency and scale of the threat posed by the mpox outbreak in Africa. It aims not only to stop the current spread but also to build lasting systems that will enhance the continent’s ability to respond to future outbreaks. As Africa battles this public health crisis, the commitment and coordinated efforts of local, regional, and global partners will be vital in safeguarding the health and well-being of its people.
As the response plan gets underway, the coming months will be crucial in determining its effectiveness in curbing the mpox outbreak. The efforts to contain the virus will require not just funding but also a concerted effort from governments, healthcare workers, and communities to protect the continent’s most vulnerable populations from the devastating effects of this disease.
