Breaking News: Africa CDC Declares Mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security
In a shocking move, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has declared the Mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS). This decision comes after a thorough review of the epidemiological situation by the Emergency Consultative Group (ECG), which recommended the declaration.
According to the letter from H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, the Mpox outbreak has spread to 16 African Union Member States, with a high case fatality rate above 3.9%. The number of cases has increased by 160% compared to 2023, with 17,541 cases and 517 deaths reported from January to August 2024.
The declaration of PHECS allows Africa CDC to coordinate and support AU Member States in their response to the outbreak, particularly those that have been declared PHECS or Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) emergencies.
The letter highlights several challenges, including:
- Low level of domestic resources from Member States
- Limited availability of vaccines, with only three African countries having approved their utilization
- Suboptimal communication activities to raise awareness of the population and sensitize them for the use of vaccines
- The tension of increasing demand for vaccines by Western nations and the monopoly in the manufacturing of vaccines, putting Africa at a disadvantage in securing vaccines
- The risk of Africa not being considered in the distribution of vaccines and other medical countermeasures if African leaders don’t come together to make their voice heard
- The continuous threat of cross-border circulation of the virus, affecting countries that were previously non-endemic
- Lack of diagnostic capabilities, leading to a testing rate of around 18% in some countries
- Inadequate surveillance system, leading to under-detection and notification of cases
- The risk of Western countries imposing travel restrictions to Africa if leaders and communities don’t take the outbreak seriously
To address these challenges, Africa CDC has outlined several next steps, including:
- Working with affected countries to ensure they have an updated response plan and preparedness plan
- Providing support to affected countries with the donation of vaccines already secured
- Ensuring regulatory authorities agree to use the vaccine, supply chain logistics are in place, and communication activities are ongoing to ensure acceptance of the vaccines by the targeted population
- Meeting with Ministers of Health every two weeks for strategic discussions and guidance
- Working with Heads of State for a meeting that will involve most of them and partners at the highest level
The Africa CDC has assured that it will remain at the disposal of any requests that can help address this health issue on the continent.
This development is a significant step in the fight against Mpox, and it is crucial that African leaders and communities come together to address this outbreak and prevent further spread.
