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The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that the high burden of swine pox cases, limited diagnostic capacity and high mortality from the disease are some of the pressing challenges hampering swine pox response efforts on the continent as the number of cases surges across the continent.
Addis Ababa, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) — The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned on August 25 that as the number of Ebola cases on the African continent surges, the heavy burden of Ebola cases, limited diagnostic capabilities and high mortality are some of the urgent challenges hindering the continent’s response to the Ebola virus.
In an update on the African vaccinia outbreak released on Friday, Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya said challenges also relate to the rapid spread of the disease to new countries and disparate attempts to respond to vaccinia at a time when there is a greater need for improved coordination of efforts.
According to the Africa CDC, from the beginning of 2024 to August 23, a total of 21,466 potential cases of monkeypox (formerly known as monkeypox) and 591 deaths were reported from the 13 African Union (AU) member states.
Currently, 13 AU member states have reported cases of cowpox, including Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.
“Because MPOX is mostly a mild illness and surveillance, testing, contact tracing and reporting are limited, the number of cases and deaths seen is just the tip of the iceberg,” Cassia said in a letter to African health ministers updating them on the ongoing MPOX outbreak in Africa.
He also warned that African swine fever has a high case fatality rate, mostly between 3% and 4%, adding that the disease’s link to HIV was also particularly worrying.
Cassia said several previously unaffected African countries had recently reported their first imported cases of vaccinia, and the risk of the virus spreading outside Africa was high.
“As I write this, Gabon has confirmed its first case, while Sierra Leone and Malawi are now testing their suspected cases,” said Cassia, insisting that a negative laboratory test result does not mean there is no cowpox outbreak.
On August 13, the Africa CDC declared the ongoing MPox outbreak in Africa a Public Health Emergency for Continental Security (PHECS), stating that “the MPox outbreak poses a clear and present danger to the African continent.”
The day after the Africa CDC announced the outbreak of PHECS, the World Health Organization (WHO) also declared MPOX a public health emergency of international concern, triggering the highest level of global alert for MPOX for the second time in two years amid an increasing number of cases of the deadly new variant virus reported on the African continent and outside Africa.
Kasaya said the AU’s specialized health agency consulted “Africa’s best epidemiologists and laboratory experts” as well as international experts and relevant agencies, including the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organization, when announcing the PHECS.
“In conclusion, it is not advisable to rely solely on laboratory test results to diagnose MPOX. We need a holistic approach that combines laboratory testing with clinical assessment and epidemiological data, which is essential for accurate diagnosis and management of MPOX. The diagnosis and management of MPOX should adopt a comprehensive approach,” he said.
Earlier this week, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that vaccinations against African swine fever could begin “in the coming days” as the number of cases surges on the continent.
The head of the Africa CDC said that the agency is supporting African countries in their prevention and response activities by working closely with African countries, WHO and partners, and leveraging the AU’s political, policy and communications capabilities to respond to the epidemic.
He also revealed that the Africa CDC is sending about 200 epidemiologists and logisticians to all African countries affected by swine fever. Prior to this, 24 experts had been sent to support the fight against the epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries worst affected.
Kasia noted that the continent has developed a strategy for MPOX to mobilize resources and coordinate the outbreak response, and said an incident management team has been established under the leadership of the Africa CDC.
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