Africa on the Brink of Declaring Public Health Emergency as Mpox Outbreak Worsens
The African continent is on the verge of declaring a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) as the Mpox outbreak continues its rapid spread across multiple countries. This announcement was made by Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC), during a webinar on Thursday addressing the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other affected African nations.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease similar to smallpox but generally less severe. It is characterized by symptoms such as fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes. The disease can spread from animals to humans, as well as between humans through close contact, respiratory droplets, and contaminated objects.
In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other health bodies renamed monkeypox to “Mpox” to reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with the original name.
Dr. Kaseya emphasized the urgent need for a coordinated response to contain the outbreak, stating, “Mpox is the reality, and Africans are dying. We are taking decisive actions to protect our people. Next week, more likely, we will declare the PHECS.”
The declaration is expected to mobilize resources, streamline cross-border responses, and strengthen the continent’s health systems against the outbreak. Dr. Kaseya also highlighted the importance of involving Africa’s youth in the fight against Mpox, urging them to harness their energy and innovation to combat the virus’s spread.
He further noted that the declaration of the PHECS would be based on guidance from health experts and political leaders across Africa, ensuring a unified and effective approach to the outbreak. “This will help us to have an appropriate response, to help stop this outbreak, and also reinforce the health system in Africa,” Kaseya added.
Africa CDC has been at the forefront of monitoring and responding to the Mpox outbreak, which has raised significant concern due to its rapid spread and increasing fatalities. Public health officials have warned that without urgent action, the situation could worsen, putting even more lives at risk.
With all five regions of Africa and 16 countries currently affected, the continent faces a significant public health challenge. Since January 2022, Africa has recorded 38,465 Mpox cases and 1,456 deaths, with a staggering 160% increase in cases in 2024 compared to 2023.
Dr. Kaseya revealed that the disease has spread through cross-border transmission, sexual contact, and co-morbidities, particularly in regions with vulnerable populations such as those with malnutrition or HIV. New cases have emerged in countries like Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, and Uganda, marking their first-ever reported instances of Mpox.
In Côte d’Ivoire, the Ministry of Health reported its first Mpox outbreak involving a 46-year-old agricultural worker and a 20-year-old student from Abidjan. The mode of exposure remains unclear, and the circulating clade is yet to be identified. In Kenya, a 42-year-old long-distance truck driver was identified as the first Mpox case at the Taita Taveta point of entry on the Kenya-Tanzania border. Uganda also reported two female cases in the Kasese district, both imported from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Dr. Kaseya warned that Mpox poses a high risk, particularly to children under 15, who are the most affected demographic, with a case fatality rate of 3.2%.
The impending declaration of a PHECS follows the African Union’s Executive Council approval on July 17, granting Africa CDC the authority to make independent public health decisions. This move comes after WHO’s declaration of monkeypox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on July 23, 2022, despite Africa having dealt with the disease since the 1970s.
As the global community closely monitors these developments, Africa’s response to the Mpox outbreak will have far-reaching implications for public health security both on the continent and worldwide.
