The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has unveiled a US$600 million plan to combat the ongoing mpox outbreak across the continent. Announced on Tuesday, September 10, the plan covers the period from September 2024 to February 2025.

It allocates 55% of the budget for response and readiness in 28 affected countries, while 45% will support operational efforts.

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Since declaring mpox a medical emergency on August 13, Africa CDC has been at the forefront of coordinating efforts to assist countries in containing the outbreak.

The Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) in Addis Ababa has been reactivated for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, alongside regional command centres in Lusaka, Nairobi, and Libreville, to monitor cases and guide public health responses.

Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya has been holding weekly briefings to provide updates.

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"We know that surveillance in Africa is still weak, and many areas are under-reporting cases,” Dr. Kaseya noted.

Africa CDC stressed that training programmes are underway in seven countries to improve sample collection, diagnosis, and genomic sequencing. Laboratory testing is being expanded with the procurement of 20,000 testing cartridges. A new surveillance protocol has also been introduced to standardise data and improve cross-border coordination.

A Research and Development (R&D) conference held in Kinshasa on August 29 saw over 2,000 participants discussing medical countermeasures and surveillance gaps.

One of the most urgent priorities is ensuring vaccines reach the 13 hardest-hit countries. The DR Congo, among the most affected, has contributed $10 million and requested two million vaccines from Japan.

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Africa CDC is collaborating with international partners to accelerate vaccine distribution. In a move to boost local vaccine production, Africa CDC has secured an agreement with European pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic to support an African manufacturer in producing mpox vaccines.

Dr. Kaseya highlighted the need for swift vaccine delivery, warning that delays could hinder efforts to control the outbreak.

WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus has pledged support, ensuring UNICEF and GAVI will facilitate vaccine procurement.

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For the first time, Africa CDC has formed a joint incident management team with international agencies, including the WHO, UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières, the World Food Programme, and the Red Cross. This collaboration aims to improve outbreak management across the continent.

The response plan, developed with WHO, focuses on 10 key areas, including vaccination, surveillance, and research. Countries are grouped into four risk categories to ensure resources are directed to where they are needed most.

Despite concerns, Dr. Kaseya dismissed the idea of travel bans on African nations, stating, "This is a public health crisis, but a travel ban won’t solve anything.”