ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – The notion of mpox as an issue exclusive to Africa is both “wrong and inappropriate,” stated the Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Tuesday.
During a virtual briefing, Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya emphasized that while mpox is a significant health concern in Africa, it also poses a threat on a global scale. “Mpox is a major health issue primarily in Africa but also globally,” he asserted.
In response to the escalating threat, the Africa CDC has established its first-ever continental Incident Management Team and developed a comprehensive continental response plan to combat the virus. Kaseya underscored that the organization is working closely with African Union member countries, heads of state, and various stakeholders to drive a coordinated and robust response across the continent.
As of August 26, Africa CDC reported a total of 22,863 mpox cases across 13 African Union member states, comprising 3,641 confirmed cases, 19,222 suspected cases, and 622 deaths.
Kaseya urged member states to enhance their surveillance mechanisms, stressing that a well-coordinated response is crucial for effective containment of the virus. To support these efforts, the Africa CDC is actively working to secure vaccines, having already obtained 250,000 doses, with an additional 165,000 doses in the procurement process.
Central Africa remains the most severely impacted region, accounting for 20,719 cases and 618 deaths. Smaller outbreaks have been recorded in East, Southern, and West Africa. Gabon recently confirmed its first mpox case on August 22, involving a traveler returning from Uganda.
While North Africa has yet to report any mpox cases, the increasing numbers in other regions underscore the urgent need for a unified and coordinated public health response, Kaseya concluded.