In Dakar, Senegal, the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization recently initiated a comprehensive response plan for the outbreak of mpox across Africa. This plan was launched three weeks following the WHO’s declaration of the mpox outbreaks in 12 African nations as a global emergency. The estimated budget for this six-month plan amounts to nearly $600 million, with 55% dedicated to mpox response in 14 affected countries and enhancing preparedness in 15 other nations. The remaining 45% is designated for operational and technical support through various partners. Africa CDC’s director-general, Dr. Jean Kaseya, provided these details to journalists on Friday.
The plan primarily emphasizes surveillance, laboratory testing, and community engagement, with Dr. Kaseya highlighting the importance of not relying solely on vaccines to combat the escalating outbreak. Since the beginning of 2024, the continent has reported 5,549 confirmed cases of mpox, resulting in 643 deaths. Congo alone accounts for 91% of these cases. The majority of mpox infections in Congo and the second most affected country, Burundi, are observed in children under the age of 15.
The launch of this response plan coincided with the arrival of the initial batch of mpox vaccines in Congo’s capital, the heart of the outbreak. The European Union, through HERA, its health emergencies agency, donated 100,000 doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine from Danish company Bavarian Nordic. An additional 100,000 doses are anticipated to arrive on the following day. According to Congolese authorities, these vaccines play a crucial role in protecting healthcare workers and vulnerable populations while curbing the spread of mpox.
However, the 200,000 vaccine doses received are only a fraction of the 3 million doses required to halt the mpox outbreaks in Congo, the epicenter of the emergency. While European Union countries pledged over 500,000 more doses, the timeline for their delivery remained uncertain. Doctors Without Borders representative in Congo, Emmanuel Lampaert, emphasized that vaccination was an essential supplementary measure, underscoring the significance of fundamental health practices in combating the outbreak amidst challenges faced in various parts of Congo.
Although Congo granted emergency approval for the vaccine, which has been administered in adults in Europe and the United States, the commencement date of the vaccination campaign remained undisclosed as of Friday. Initially, the vaccination rollout will be focused on adults, particularly targeting those in close contact with infected individuals and sex workers. The European Medicines Agency is reviewing additional data to potentially extend the vaccine use to children aged 12 to 17 by the end of the month, as mentioned by HERA Director-General Laurent Muschel, who highlighted the necessity of adapting strategies based on the vaccination campaign’s outcomes.
As Muschel addressed reporters, acknowledging the ongoing learning process, he emphasized the importance of adjusting strategies in response to the campaign’s impacts, expressing openness to modifications based on evolving circumstances.
