Africa Poised to Declare Public Health Emergency Over Mpox Surge, Says Africa Centre for Disease Control CDCD – Director Jean Kaseya
Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News 6 minutes read. Updated 12:03AM GMT Fri, 9August, 2024
In a major development, Africa is on the brink of declaring a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) due to a severe outbreak of Mpox (formerly known as Monkeypox). The decision comes as the continent grapples with a significant rise in cases and fatalities.
Since January 2022, Africa has reported 38,465 Mpox cases and 1,456 deaths. Alarmingly, the number of cases has surged by 160% in 2024 compared to the previous year. This rapid escalation has prompted urgent action from health officials across the continent.
Jean Kaseya, the Director General of the Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC), addressed the issue during a webinar on Thursday, highlighting the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other affected nations. Mpox, caused by the monkeypox virus, bears similarities to smallpox but is generally less severe. Symptoms include fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes, with the disease capable of spreading through close contact, respiratory droplets, and contaminated objects.
In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) renamed monkeypox to Mpox to mitigate stigma and discrimination. Mr. Kaseya emphasized the necessity for a coordinated response to control the outbreak.
“Mpox is the reality, and Africans are dying. We are taking decisive actions to protect our people. Next week, we are likely to declare the PHECS,” he stated. This declaration is expected to mobilize resources, streamline cross-border responses, and bolster the continent’s health systems.
Kaseya also underscored the critical role of engaging youth in combating the outbreak. “This call for youths’ involvement is vital to harnessing their energy and innovation in combating the spread of the virus,” he added. The PHECS declaration will be based on advice from health experts and political leaders to ensure a unified and effective approach.
The Africa CDC has been actively monitoring the outbreak, which has become increasingly concerning due to its rapid spread and rising death toll. Without urgent intervention, public health officials warn that the situation could deteriorate further, risking more lives.
The anticipated PHECS declaration is expected to facilitate the rapid deployment of medical supplies, enhance information sharing, and strengthen public health systems across the continent. The global community is closely watching these developments, recognizing that Africa’s response will have significant implications for global public health security.
Currently, Mpox has affected all five regions of Africa, with 16 countries reporting cases. New countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, and Uganda have recently reported their first cases. 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. In Kenya, a 42-year-old truck driver was identified as the first case at the Taita Taveta entry point on the Kenya-Tanzania border. Uganda reported two cases in the Kasese district, both imported from the DRC.
Mpox poses a significant risk due to its 3.2% case fatality rate, with children under 15 being the most affected. The African Union’s Executive Council had previously approved a statute on July 17 allowing the Africa CDC to make independent public health decisions, following the WHO’s declaration of Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on July 23, 2022. As Africa prepares for the official PHECS declaration, the continent faces a critical public health challenge that demands swift and coordinated action.
