The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Africa (CDC) has cautioned countries to be more vigilant and have better coordination of response efforts as mpox spreads to 13 countries on the continent.

In a letter addressed to ministers of health from African Union Member States, the Africa CDC said that from January 1 to August 23, a total of 21,466 cases and 591 deaths from mpox have been reported in 13 AU member states so far.

The affected countries include Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda.

Additionally, Gabon has recently confirmed its first case, while Sierra Leone and Malawi are testing suspected cases.

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On August 13, this year, the Africa CDC declared mpox a public health emergency of continental security in Africa, while the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on August 14, following a rapid increase in cases compared.

Figures from the Africa CDC indicate a 160 per cent increase in the number of reported mpox cases and a 19 per cent increase in the number of deaths from January to August 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

The data also indicates that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) accounts for 96 per cent of all cases and 97 per cent of all deaths reported in 2024.

The Africa CDC said that an Emergency Operations Centre has been set up to support countries&039; response efforts.

"Africa CDC has activated its Emergency Operations Centre to support the preparedness and response efforts with the aim to enhance coordination and provide technical support to AU Member States. Additionally, a continental strategy for mpox has been developed to help mobilise resources to coordinate the outbreak response," the letter reads in part.

ALSO READ: Rwanda reports four mpox cases linked to travel, reinforces health precautions

To further support the mpox response efforts, the Africa CDC is set to deploy around 200 epidemiologists and logisticians in affected countries.

Vaccines

Despite the rapid spread of the mpox outbreak in Africa, the continent continues to face a shortage of the mpox vaccine, with experts lamenting that lessons learnt during the Covid-19 pandemic on vaccine inequities have brought little to no change.

The Africa CDC says that strategic partnerships are being forged to ensure supply of the vaccines in Africa.

Africa CDC has established a partnership with the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) to provide 215,000 doses of the vaccines from Bavarian Nordic (BN) and to ensure equitable distribution based on local needs.

Other partnerships to this effect are being concluded that will be announced soon.

"As efforts to make the vaccines accessible to African countries continue, more challenges have to be addressed by the African States themselves, to ensure the vaccines reach the targeted populations," Africa CDC said.

ALSO READ: Vaccine shortage impedes Africa’s mpox response, warns Dr Mihigo

So far, only three countries (Nigeria, South Africa, and the DRC) have approved the utilisation of the mpox vaccines.

At the same time, an increasing demand for the vaccines by Western countries and the monopoly in the manufacturing of vaccines puts Africa at a disadvantage in securing the vaccines, given the limited market demand.

Currently, vaccine manufacturer, Bavarian Nordic, headquartered in Denmark, is the only company manufacturing mpox vaccines.

Africa CDC warns of possible travel restrictions for African countries.

"Western countries are now openly talking of imposing travel restrictions to Africa if our leaders and communities don’t take this outbreak seriously," the Africa CDC says.

ALSO READ: Rwanda steps up mpox response, says health minister

Rwanda's response

In Rwanda, four cases of mpox have been confirmed, with two of the patients having been treated and discharged after recovery.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, recently announced that the country has ramped up its response efforts.

"Health workers are actively visiting homes to identify and assist those who may be infected. Patients diagnosed with mpox are encouraged to isolate at home while receiving treatment, and their close contacts are given guidelines to prevent transmission, especially in public spaces,” he said.

He added that the government is working closely with neighbouring countries and global health organisations to contain the outbreak, drawing from the experience, tackling previous health crises, such as Covid-19.

The ministry has also put in place measures at border crossings to screen for the virus, while enhancing contact tracing and monitoring, to help contain the virus.