Africa CDC warns of rising Mpox cases

With Mpox cases spreading to new countries and a CFR between 3% and 4%, the situation is becoming increasingly urgent, particularly for nations with limited healthcare resources.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has issued a warning about the growing threat of Mpox across the continent, citing escalating case numbers, a concerning case fatality rate (CFR), and significant challenges in diagnostics and vaccine access.

With Mpox cases spreading to new countries and a CFR between 3% and 4%, the situation is becoming increasingly urgent, particularly for nations with limited healthcare resources.

Since the beginning of 2024, a total of 21,466 Mpox cases, including 3,350 confirmed and 18,116 suspected cases, have been reported across 13 African Union (AU) Member States.

These cases have resulted in 591 deaths, leading to a CFR of 2.9%. The rapid spread of the disease is particularly alarming, given the link between Mpox and immunocompromised populations, especially individuals living with HIV—a significant concern for Africa, which bears the highest burden of HIV globally.

Dr Jean Kaseya, the director general of the Africa CDC, emphasized the severity of the situation: “The case fatality rate of Mpox is unacceptably high, and the risk of further spread, particularly to countries with fragile healthcare systems, is a major concern.

"The fact that we are seeing new cases in countries that had not previously reported Mpox indicates that the virus is gaining a foothold across the continent.”

In recent weeks, several African countries that had previously been free of Mpox cases have reported their first confirmed or suspected cases. Most recently, Gabon confirmed its first Mpox case, and Sierra Leone and Malawi are in the process of testing suspected cases.

The Africa CDC has called for greater regional cooperation and a unified response to Mpox, warning that without coordinated efforts, the disease could spread beyond Africa's borders.

One of the most pressing issues identified by the Africa CDC is the limited access to reliable diagnostics across many African countries.

Accurate testing for Mpox is crucial, but it remains challenging due to factors such as the timing of sample collection and the availability of testing resources.

The agency cautioned that negative laboratory results should not be taken as definitive proof of the absence of the disease, especially when there is strong clinical and epidemiological evidence.

"Diagnostics are the backbone of any disease response strategy," said Dr Kaseya.

"Yet, in many of our member states, access to these critical tools is far too limited. False negatives are a real possibility, and clinicians must be vigilant in considering all possible indicators of Mpox, including exposure history and clinical symptoms."

While vaccines are available, access remains limited, and their clinical efficacy is still under scrutiny. The Africa CDC stressed the importance of developing a strategic plan to ensure vaccines are deployed where they will have the greatest impact, particularly in high-risk populations.

The agency has called on all AU Member States to enhance their collaboration and share resources and information to mount a more effective response to the ongoing crisis.

Additionally, the agency has urged countries to integrate Mpox testing with other essential health screenings, particularly for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), given the strong link between these conditions and the severity of Mpox infections.