The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has officially declared the ongoing Mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS), marking the agency’s first such declaration since its establishment in 2017. This declaration empowers Africa CDC to lead and coordinate responses to significant health emergencies across the continent.
Under Article 3, Paragraph F of the Africa CDC Statutes, the agency is mandated to “coordinate and support Member States in health emergency responses, particularly those declared PHECS or Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).” The declaration allows for the mobilization of resources, unlocking essential funding, enhancing Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE), boosting surveillance and laboratory testing, and strengthening human resource capacities to effectively respond to the Mpox outbreak.
Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya emphasized the urgency of swift and decisive action: “Today, we declare this PHECS to mobilize our institutions, our collective will, and our resources to act—swiftly and decisively. This empowers us to forge new partnerships, strengthen our health systems, educate our communities, and deliver life-saving interventions where they are needed most. There is no need for travel restrictions at this time.”
The Mpox outbreak has spread to at least 13 African countries, including previously unaffected nations such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. In 2024 alone, these countries have reported 2,863 confirmed cases and 517 deaths, with the majority occurring in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Suspected cases across the continent have surged past 17,000, highlighting significant weaknesses in surveillance, laboratory testing, and contact tracing.
Dr. Kaseya underscored the gravity of the situation, stating, “This is not just another challenge; it’s a crisis that demands our collective action.” He urged international partners to collaborate closely with Africa CDC, emphasizing the need for a global response to the outbreak.
The emergency declaration follows consultations, including a unanimous decision by the Africa CDC Emergency Consultative Group (ECG), chaired by Professor Salim Abdool Karim, head of CAPRISA in South Africa. Prof. Karim highlighted concerns about the rising number of Mpox cases, particularly the potential link between HIV and increased fatalities. “The number of cases has significantly increased compared to 2022 when WHO declared Mpox a public health emergency. It’s clear that we’re facing a different scenario with far more cases, resulting in a higher burden of illness,” he noted.
To combat the outbreak, Africa CDC has established a 25-member Incident Management Team at the epicenter of the Mpox epidemic to support affected and at-risk countries. Additionally, Africa CDC has signed a partnership agreement with the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) and Bavarian Nordic to provide over 215,000 doses of the MVA-BN® vaccine—the only FDA and EMA-approved Mpox vaccine. Africa CDC will oversee the equitable distribution of these vaccines across the affected Member States.
Mpox Symptoms, Prevention, and Treatment
Mpox is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, with symptoms including a skin rash or mucosal lesions, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes. The virus can be transmitted to humans through physical contact with an infectious person, contaminated materials, or infected animals.
