Africa CDC Reports 21,466 Mpox Cases and 591 Deaths in 13 Countries

Calls for Vaccine Approval Across All African Union Member States

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), a specialized agency of the African Union, has reported 21,466 cases of Mpox and 591 associated deaths in 13 African countries since the start of 2024.

The Director-General of Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya, shared this update in a letter addressed to the Ministers of Health of African Union Member States. He urged the approval and widespread adoption of Mpox vaccines across the continent, particularly in light of global vaccine shortages

.In the letter titled “Update on the Mpox Outbreak in Africa,” Dr. Kaseya emphasized the need for a coordinated response among AU Member States, advocating for the universal introduction of Mpox vaccines.”

Since 2023, Mpox, a viral zoonotic disease, has been reported in 16 AU Member States across all five regions, with a case fatality rate exceeding 3.9 percent. From January 1st to August 23rd, 2024, a total of 21,466 cases, including 3,350 confirmed and 18,116 suspected cases, along with 591 deaths, were reported from 13 AU Member States,” he stated.

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

Dr. Kaseya noted that as of his writing, Gabon had confirmed its first case, while Sierra Leone and Malawi were in the process of testing suspected cases.Addressing the confirmation of Mpox cases,

Dr. Kaseya mentioned, “Some of you have reached out for advice, especially when laboratory tests return negative results for Mpox. In response, Africa CDC has consulted with leading epidemiologists and laboratory experts across Africa and internationally, including experts from the US CDC, China CDC, Europe CDC, and WHO.”

He underscored that a negative laboratory test does not necessarily mean the absence of Mpox. “Relying solely on lab results for diagnosing Mpox is not advisable. We need a comprehensive approach that integrates laboratory testing with clinical assessments and epidemiological data to ensure accurate diagnosis and management of Mpox,” he explained.

Dr. Kaseya elaborated that diagnosing and managing Mpox requires considering multiple factors, such as clinical symptoms, the epidemiological context, patient history, risk factors, and laboratory results. He pointed out that lab tests can yield false negatives due to various factors, including the timing of sample collection, which may affect the viral load detected.

He further stressed the importance of clinical examination, especially when lab results are inconclusive, and highlighted the role of understanding a patient’s exposure history, including contact with known cases or travel to areas experiencing Mpox outbreaks.

While emphasizing the need for countries to conduct HIV and STI tests alongside Mpox testing, Dr. Kaseya warned that no test is perfect and that some Mpox tests might have lower sensitivity, leading to false negatives if the viral load is low.

He also discussed viral variability, noting that different strains or mutations of the Mpox virus might not be easily detected by certain tests, particularly those designed for specific strains.

Dr. Kaseya noted that only Nigeria, South Africa, and the Democratic Republic of Congo have approved the use of Mpox vaccines so far, and he called on other African nations to follow suit. He expressed concern that Africa could be disadvantaged in securing vaccines due to high demand from Western nations and the monopoly in vaccine manufacturing, with only one company currently producing the vaccine.

“There is a serious risk that Africa may be excluded from vaccine distribution and other medical countermeasures unless African leaders strongly advocate for their needs,” he warned. He also highlighted the potential risk of travel restrictions being imposed on African countries by Western nations if the outbreak is not taken seriously.

Dr. Kaseya stressed the importance of effective communication to raise public awareness and encourage vaccine uptake. He assured that support would be provided to affected countries through the donation of vaccines already secured.

Addressing the complexities surrounding vaccine access, the Director-General acknowledged the challenges posed by the limited supply and high cost of vaccines, coupled with the need for robust clinical efficacy data. He emphasized the importance of careful planning to ensure vaccines are deployed effectively and that regulatory authorities approve their use, supply chain logistics are in place, and communication efforts are made to ensure public acceptance.

Calls for Vaccine Approval Across All African Union Member StatesThe Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), a specialized agency of the African Union, has reported 21,466 cases of Mpox and 591 associated deaths in 13 African countries since the start of 2024.The Director-General of Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya, shared this update in a letter addressed to the Ministers of Health of African Union Member States. He urged the approval and widespread adoption of Mpox vaccines across the continent, particularly in light of global vaccine shortages.In the letter titled “Update on the Mpox Outbreak in Africa,” Dr. Kaseya emphasized the need for a coordinated response among AU Member States, advocating for the universal introduction of Mpox vaccines.”Since 2023, Mpox, a viral zoonotic disease, has been reported in 16 AU Member States across all five regions, with a case fatality rate exceeding 3.9 percent. From January 1st to August 23rd, 2024, a total of 21,466 cases, including 3,350 confirmed and 18,116 suspected cases, along with 591 deaths, were reported from 13 AU Member States,” he stated.The affected countries include Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, and Nigeria.Dr. Kaseya noted that as of his writing, Gabon had confirmed its first case, while Sierra Leone and Malawi were in the process of testing suspected cases.Addressing the confirmation of Mpox cases, Dr. Kaseya mentioned, “Some of you have reached out for advice, especially when laboratory tests return negative results for Mpox. In response, Africa CDC has consulted with leading epidemiologists and laboratory experts across Africa and internationally, including experts from the US CDC, China CDC, Europe CDC, and WHO.”He underscored that a negative laboratory test does not necessarily mean the absence of Mpox. “Relying solely on lab results for diagnosing Mpox is not advisable. We need a comprehensive approach that integrates laboratory testing with clinical assessments and epidemiological data to ensure accurate diagnosis and management of Mpox,” he explained.Dr. Kaseya elaborated that diagnosing and managing Mpox requires considering multiple factors, such as clinical symptoms, the epidemiological context, patient history, risk factors, and laboratory results. He pointed out that lab tests can yield false negatives due to various factors, including the timing of sample collection, which may affect the viral load detected.He further stressed the importance of clinical examination, especially when lab results are inconclusive, and highlighted the role of understanding a patient’s exposure history, including contact with known cases or travel to areas experiencing Mpox outbreaks.While emphasizing the need for countries to conduct HIV and STI tests alongside Mpox testing, Dr. Kaseya warned that no test is perfect and that some Mpox tests might have lower sensitivity, leading to false negatives if the viral load is low.He also discussed viral variability, noting that different strains or mutations of the Mpox virus might not be easily detected by certain tests, particularly those designed for specific strains.Dr. Kaseya noted that only Nigeria, South Africa, and the Democratic Republic of Congo have approved the use of Mpox vaccines so far, and he called on other African nations to follow suit. He expressed concern that Africa could be disadvantaged in securing vaccines due to high demand from Western nations and the monopoly in vaccine manufacturing, with only one company currently producing the vaccine.”There is a serious risk that Africa may be excluded from vaccine distribution and other medical countermeasures unless African leaders strongly advocate for their needs,” he warned. He also highlighted the potential risk of travel restrictions being imposed on African countries by Western nations if the outbreak is not taken seriously.Calls for Vaccine Approval Across All African Union Member StatesThe Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), a specialized agency of the African Union, has reported 21,466 cases of Mpox and 591 associated deaths in 13 African countries since the start of 2024.The Director-General of Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya, shared this update in a letter addressed to the Ministers of Health of African Union Member States. He urged the approval and widespread adoption of Mpox vaccines across the continent, particularly in light of global vaccine shortages.In the letter titled “Update on the Mpox Outbreak in Africa,” Dr. Kaseya emphasized the need for a coordinated response among AU Member States, advocating for the universal introduction of Mpox vaccines.”Since 2023, Mpox, a viral zoonotic disease, has been reported in 16 AU Member States across all five regions, with a case fatality rate exceeding 3.9 percent. From January 1st to August 23rd, 2024, a total of 21,466 cases, including 3,350 confirmed and 18,116 suspected cases, along with 591 deaths, were reported from 13 AU Member States,” he stated.The affected countries include Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, and Nigeria.Dr. Kaseya noted that as of his writing, Gabon had confirmed its first case, while Sierra Leone and Malawi were in the process of testing suspected cases.Addressing the confirmation of Mpox cases, Dr. Kaseya mentioned, “Some of you have reached out for advice, especially when laboratory tests return negative results for Mpox. In response, Africa CDC has consulted with leading epidemiologists and laboratory experts across Africa and internationally, including experts from the US CDC, China CDC, Europe CDC, and WHO.”He underscored that a negative laboratory test does not necessarily mean the absence of Mpox. “Relying solely on lab results for diagnosing Mpox is not advisable. We need a comprehensive approach that integrates laboratory testing with clinical assessments and epidemiological data to ensure accurate diagnosis and management of Mpox,” he explained.Dr. Kaseya elaborated that diagnosing and managing Mpox requires considering multiple factors, such as clinical symptoms, the epidemiological context, patient history, risk factors, and laboratory results. He pointed out that lab tests can yield false negatives due to various factors, including the timing of sample collection, which may affect the viral load detected.He further stressed the importance of clinical examination, especially when lab results are inconclusive, and highlighted the role of understanding a patient’s exposure history, including contact with known cases or travel to areas experiencing Mpox outbreaks.While emphasizing the need for countries to conduct HIV and STI tests alongside Mpox testing, Dr. Kaseya warned that no test is perfect and that some Mpox tests might have lower sensitivity, leading to false negatives if the viral load is low.He also discussed viral variability, noting that different strains or mutations of the Mpox virus might not be easily detected by certain tests, particularly those designed for specific strains.Dr. Kaseya noted that only Nigeria, South Africa, and the Democratic Republic of Congo have approved the use of Mpox vaccines so far, and he called on other African nations to follow suit. He expressed concern that Africa could be disadvantaged in securing vaccines due to high demand from Western nations and the monopoly in vaccine manufacturing, with only one company currently producing the vaccine.”There is a serious risk that Africa may be excluded from vaccine distribution and other medical countermeasures unless African leaders strongly advocate for their needs,” he warned. He also highlighted the potential risk of travel restrictions being imposed on African countries by Western nations if the outbreak is not taken seriously.The affected countries include Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, and Nigeria.Dr. Kaseya noted that as of his writing, Gabon had confirmed its first case, while Sierra Leone and Malawi were in the process of testing suspected cases.Addressing the confirmation of Mpox cases, Dr. Kaseya mentioned, “Some of you have reached out for advice, especially when laboratory tests return negative results for Mpox. In response, Africa CDC has consulted with leading epidemiologists and laboratory experts across Africa and internationally, including experts from the US CDC, China CDC, Europe CDC, and WHO.”He underscored that a negative laboratory test does not necessarily mean the absence of Mpox. “Relying solely on lab results for diagnosing Mpox is not advisable. We need a comprehensive approach that integrates laboratory testing with clinical assessments and epidemiological data to ensure accurate diagnosis and management of Mpox,” he explained.Dr. Kaseya elaborated that diagnosing and managing Mpox requires considering multiple factors, such as clinical symptoms, the epidemiological context, patient history, risk factors, and laboratory results. He pointed out that lab tests can yield false negatives due to various factors, including the timing of sample collection, which may affect the viral load detected.He further stressed the importance of clinical examination, especially when lab results are inconclusive, and highlighted the role of understanding a patient’s exposure history, including contact with known cases or travel to areas experiencing Mpox outbreaks.While emphasizing the need for countries to conduct HIV and STI tests alongside Mpox testing, Dr. Kaseya warned that no test is perfect and that some Mpox tests might have lower sensitivity, leading to false negatives if the viral load is low.He also discussed viral variability, noting that different strains or mutations of the Mpox virus might not be easily detected by certain tests, particularly those designed for specific strains.