Africa CDC and WHO Roll Out Pan-African Mpox Response Plan

The Africa CDC and WHO have launched a continent-wide response plan for the mpox outbreak, allocating $600 million for a six-month strategy. This plan includes surveillance, laboratory testing, and community engagement, with 200,000 initial vaccine doses delivered to Congo, the epicenter of the outbreak.

The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organisation launched a continent-wide response plan to the mpox outbreak on Friday, three weeks after the WHO declared outbreaks in 12 African countries a global emergency.

The estimated budget for the six-month plan is nearly USD 600 million, with 55 percent allocated to mpox response in 14 affected nations and preparedness in 15 others. The remaining 45 percent is directed towards operational and technical support through partners, according to Africa CDC director-general Dr. Jean Kaseya.

The plan emphasizes surveillance, laboratory testing, and community engagement, indicating that vaccines alone aren't sufficient to combat the outbreak. Since early 2024, there have been 5,549 confirmed mpox cases and 643 deaths across the continent. Congo accounts for 91 percent of these cases, particularly affecting children under 15.

On Thursday, the first batch of 100,000 JYNNEOS vaccines arrived in Congo, with an additional 100,000 expected on Saturday. These doses form part of the 3 million required to address the crisis. Most of the current vaccines will go to adults in close contact with infected people and sex workers, with potential expansions to children aged 12-17 pending further data.

(With inputs from agencies.)