Africa CDC to Declare Public Health Emergency Amid Mpox Epidemic
The Africa CDC (Continental Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is poised to declare a "public health emergency" next week in response to the escalating Mpox epidemic affecting several African nations. This announcement, made by director Jean Kaseya on August 8, marks a significant step as it would be the first emergency declaration since the agency's mandate was expanded in 2023. Currently, 887 cases and five deaths have been reported across at least 16 countries, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) being the most severely impacted.
The emergence of a new strain, termed "Clade Ib," detected in the DRC in September 2023, has raised alarms due to its heightened transmissibility and lethality compared to earlier variants. This new strain is characterized by widespread rashes, contrasting with previous variants that typically caused localized lesions. The Africa CDC's decision to declare an emergency is anticipated to facilitate a coordinated continental response and the allocation of necessary funds to combat the virus.
WHO's Urgent Response to Mpox Spread
In conjunction with the Africa CDC's actions, the World Health Organization (WHO) is convening an emergency committee to assess the potential declaration of a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the urgent need for international collaboration to monitor and control the spread of the Clade Ib strain, which has already led to over 14,000 confirmed cases and 511 deaths in the DRC alone this year.
The WHO's emergency declaration would prompt 196 member states to enhance surveillance, isolation, and treatment efforts for Mpox. With the previous PHEIC for monkeypox issued in July 2022 and lifted in May 2023, the current situation underscores the ongoing public health challenges posed by this virus. Experts emphasize that stopping transmission will require a robust, coordinated global response, including financial support and research initiatives to develop effective vaccines and treatments.
- The Clade Ib strain of Mpox, first identified in humans in 1970, has historically been confined to West and Central Africa. The recent global outbreak, driven by the Clade 2 subtype, prompted a maximum alert from the WHO in July 2022, which was lifted less than a year later. However, the emergence of Clade Ib has reignited concerns due to its increased severity and potential for international spread. Countries such as Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, and Ivory Coast are now on high alert, as the DRC reports the highest incidence of the disease. The WHO's proactive measures, including the potential for a PHEIC declaration, highlight the urgency of addressing the Mpox epidemic and the need for international cooperation to effectively manage and contain the virus.
