The African Union’s health watchdog, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), has declared a public health emergency in response to the escalating mpox outbreak across the continent. This declaration, made on Tuesday, signifies a crucial step in mobilizing resources and efforts to combat the virus’s spread.
The decision comes as mpox cases have been rapidly increasing in several African countries, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) being particularly affected. The DRC holds the unfortunate distinction of being the location where the virus was first discovered in humans back in 1970.
“With a heavy heart but with an unyielding commitment to our people, to our African citizens, we declare mpox as a public health emergency of continental security,” stated Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa CDC, during an online media briefing. “Mpox has now crossed borders, affecting thousands across our continent. Families have been torn apart and the pain and suffering have touched every corner of our continent.”
According to data released by the CDC on August 4, there have been a staggering 38,465 cases of mpox and 1,456 deaths in Africa since January 2022. Kaseya emphasized that this declaration is not just a formality but a “clarion call to action.” He asserted that “we can no longer afford to be reactive.” Instead, a proactive and aggressive approach is necessary to contain and eliminate this threat.
This declaration marks the first time the Addis Ababa-headquartered agency is using the continental security powers it was granted in 2022. The decision is anticipated to facilitate the mobilization of financial resources and other essential support in the early stages of any efforts aimed at halting the spread of the disease.
The Africa CDC’s announcement comes just before a crucial meeting of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) emergency committee on August 14. This meeting will determine whether to trigger a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) – the highest level of alarm the WHO can issue. Kaseya acknowledged that the declaration made by the Africa CDC complements the potential actions the WHO might take.
In May 2022, there was a significant surge in mpox infections globally, with the majority of cases occurring in gay and bisexual men. This was attributed to the Clade IIb subclade of the virus. The WHO declared a PHEIC in response, which remained in effect from July 2022 to May 2023. The outbreak tragically resulted in approximately 140 deaths out of a total of 90,000 cases.
Formerly known as monkeypox, mpox is an infectious disease caused by a virus that can be transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals. However, human-to-human transmission is also possible through close physical contact. The disease presents with symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and distinctive boil-like skin lesions.
There are two main subtypes of the mpox virus: Clade I, which is more virulent and deadly and endemic to the Congo Basin in central Africa, and Clade II, which is endemic to West Africa. The recent surge in cases in the DRC since September 2023 has been linked to a different strain: the Clade Ib subclade.
It is worth noting that a PHEIC has been declared by the WHO on seven occasions since 2009. These declarations were made in response to H1N1 swine flu, poliovirus, Ebola (twice), Zika virus, Covid-19, and mpox. The declaration of a public health emergency by the African Union, in conjunction with the upcoming WHO emergency committee meeting, highlights the serious nature of the current mpox outbreak and the urgent need for coordinated international action.
