NAIROBI, Kenya- Africa is grappling with a rapidly escalating Mpox virus outbreak, and the situation is slipping through the cracks, warns Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
In an urgent message shared on X, Kaseya emphasized the growing number of confirmed cases across the continent.
From April to August, the Mpox virus has spread to 12 additional countries in Africa, leading to over 1,000 recorded deaths.
Kaseya expressed frustration over the slow pace of response, pointing out that the time for meetings and pledges is over.
“We need to finalize all these discussions and translate them into concrete money, tools, and vaccines for our countries,” he said.
Africa CDC, a specialized agency of the African Union, focuses on strengthening the capacity of the continent’s public health systems.
It has now declared Mpox a public health emergency, joining the World Health Organization (WHO), which had already raised the alarm earlier this year by declaring the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
Kenya has not been spared from the outbreak. On October 14, Health Director-General Patrick Amoth confirmed the country’s first Mpox-related death. Amoth revealed that Kenya has now recorded 13 cases of the virus, with eight individuals having fully recovered.
However, four patients are still receiving treatment in various hospitals. The deceased, Amoth explained, had a pre-existing medical condition, which complicated their recovery from Mpox.
With cases rising across the country, the Ministry of Health is stepping up efforts to curb the spread.
In addition to Mpox-related measures, the WHO has bolstered Kenya’s fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) with a significant donation of medication.
The donation includes 15.2 million tablets worth Sh213 million, aimed at eliminating diseases like schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiases, particularly in high-burden regions like the Coastal and Lake Victoria areas.
The next few weeks will be critical in determining how effectively Africa can contain the Mpox outbreak.
Kaseya’s call for immediate funding, vaccines, and tools highlights the need for international collaboration and urgency. The consequences of inaction are already evident, with the virus continuing to spread across borders and claim lives.
With over 1,000 lives already lost, the Mpox outbreak in Africa is reaching a critical point. The Africa CDC’s call for swift action serves as a stark reminder that public health emergencies require more than just discussion
