The African continent is preparing to declare a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) as the Mpox (monkeypox) outbreak spreads across many countries.
Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC), stated this at a webinar on Thursday on the Mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other African countries.
According to NAN, Mpox is a viral disease produced by the monkeypox virus. It is similar to smallpox, but typically less severe.
Mpox symptoms include fever, rash, and enlarged lymph nodes. The disease can be transmitted from animals to humans and between humans by intimate contact, respiratory droplets, and contaminated objects.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and other health organisations rebranded monkeypox to “pox” in 2022 to remove the stigma and discrimination associated with the former name.
Kaseya emphasised the critical necessity for a concerted effort to control the disease. “Mpox is a reality, and Africans are dying.” “We are taking decisive steps to defend our citizens. “We will probably declare the PHECS next week,” he said.According to him, the action is intended to mobilise resources, expedite cross-border operations, and strengthen the continent’s health systems in the face of the pandemic.
He emphasised the significance of involving the continent’s youth in the fight against the pandemic.
He stated that the PHECS proclamation would be based on recommendations from health experts and political leaders across Africa, ensuring a coordinated and effective response to the outbreak.”This call for youth participation is critical in harnessing their energy and inventiveness in preventing the spread of the illness. “This will help us to have an appropriate response, to help stop this outbreak, and also reinforce the health system in Africa,” according to Kaseya.
According to him, the Africa CDC has been leading the way in tracking and managing the Mpox outbreak, which has drawn a lot of attention because of its quick spread and increasing death toll.
“Public health professionals have warned that unless immediate action is taken, the situation would deteriorate, endangering even more deaths. “As the continent prepares for the official proclamation of the PHECS, there is an increasing sense of urgency to contain the outbreak. “The proclamation is expected to facilitate the speedy deployment of medical supplies, promote the sharing of essential information, and strengthen the overall resilience of public health systems throughout Africa.
“The global community is closely monitoring these developments, recognising that Africa’s response to the Mpox outbreak will have far-reaching implications for public health security both on the continent and worldwide,” he declared. He stated that as Mpox cases increased throughout Africa, with all five regions and 16 nations now afflicted, the continent faced a huge public health burden.
Since January 2022, Africa has reported 38,465 Mpox cases and 1,456 deaths, with a 160% increase in cases in 2024 compared to 2023. According to Kaseya, the disease has expanded through cross-border transmission, sexual contact, and co-morbidities, especially in areas with susceptible populations like malnutrition or HIV. “The outbreak has reached new countries like Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, and Uganda, marking their first-ever reported cases,” stated the governor.
Speaking about a case study from one of the impacted countries, Kaseya stated that the Ministry of Health in Côte d’Ivoire proclaimed its first Mpox outbreak, which involved a 46-year-old farm labourer. He added that a 20-year-old student was also found to have contracted the sickness, and that both were from Abidjan.
“The mode of exposure is uncertain, and the circulating clade has yet to be identified. “A 42-year-old long-distance truck driver was identified as the first Mpox patient at Kenya’s Taita Taveta border crossing with Tanzania. “In Uganda, two female cases were reported in the Kasese district, both imported from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),” the doctor stated. Kaseya stated that Mpox posed a high risk due to its 3.2% case mortality rate, with children under 15 being the most affected demographically. NAN recalls that on July 17, the African Union’s Executive Council enacted a bill granting the Africa CDC the authority to make autonomous public health decisions.
This decision followed WHO’s declaration of monkeypox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on July 23, 2022, despite Africa coping with it since the 1970s.
In Essence
The increasing cases and spread of Mpox across many African countries highlight the need for immediate action. The disease poses a significant public health burden, particularly in regions with vulnerable populations, such as those experiencing malnutrition or high rates of HIV.
The PHECS declaration is expected to facilitate the rapid deployment of medical supplies, improve information sharing, and strengthen public health resilience. This is crucial for managing the current outbreak and preparing for future public health challenges.
