The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization have launched a comprehensive response plan to tackle the mpox outbreak across Africa. Announced on Friday, this joint initiative aims to enhance and expedite the continent’s efforts to control the virus, save lives, and protect public health.
The plan, set to begin this month and continue through February next year, has an estimated budget of nearly $600 million. It follows the WHO’s declaration of a public health emergency of international concern due to the new strain of mpox three weeks ago.
According to Africa CDC Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya, 55% of the funding will be allocated to the 14 countries with confirmed cases and to improve readiness in 15 additional nations. The remaining 45% will be used for operational and technical support through various partners, though specific funding sources were not disclosed.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, explained that countries are classified based on their risk levels, with targeted support for areas experiencing intense outbreaks, such as eastern DRC, and preparations in lower-risk regions like Guinea.
The response plan will focus on enhancing surveillance, laboratory testing, and community engagement, emphasizing that vaccines alone are insufficient to combat the outbreak.
Since the beginning of 2024, Africa has reported 5,549 confirmed mpox cases and 643 deaths, marking a significant rise in both infections and fatalities compared to previous years. The Democratic Republic of Congo alone accounts for 91% of these cases, with a high prevalence among children under 15.