Chijioke Iremeka
Epidemiologists and public health physicians have said without Africa having access to the mpox vaccines and vaccinating its population against the infection, it would be difficult to halt its spread on the continent.
The physicians expressed doubts about the feasibility of the World Health Organisation’s and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s goal to end mpox in Africa by February 2025, given the current situation.
The physicians emphasised that the outbreak had been ongoing in the past five or six years following poor response.
They lamented that the mpox vaccines were not readily available to the high-risk population coupled with the lack of dedicated treatment centres for infected patients.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organisation recently launched a joint continental response plan to combat the spread of the disease and protect lives across Africa.
This strategic preparedness and response plan followed the declaration of a public health emergency of continental security by Africa CDC in August a public health emergency of international concern.
Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya expressed pride in the unified approach, stating, “We are proud to jointly launch this plan, which unites all stakeholders in a coordinated approach to tackling the mpox outbreaks across Africa. This unified strategy ensures that all partners are aligned on common objectives, eliminating duplication and maximising impact.”
The six-month plan, running from September 2024 to February 2025, has an estimated budget of $600 million. Of this, 55 percent is allocated to mpox response efforts in 14 affected Member States.
Speaking with PUNCH Healthwise in different interviews, the physicians emphasised that the elimination of mpox in Africa hinges on the concerted efforts of the region, coupled with improved treatments and the availability of vaccines.
An Epidemiologist and Public Health Physician at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria, Kaduna State, Professor Aisha Abubakar, said, “Unless there are better treatments or vaccines to reach those who are susceptible to mpox infection, I am afraid that the spread may continue.
“Currently, vaccines are unavailable and there are no dedicated treatment centres for mpox patients only supportive care is provided.
“The existing drugs are not promising, and there is a proposal to use a more effective drug that may offer better protection and treatment. Given the current situation, meeting the six-month target to end the outbreak is not feasible.”
Abubakar highlighted that the mpox outbreak had persisted for five to six years and noted that the response had been inadequate.
She pointed out that Africa, including Nigeria, lacks sufficient screening and testing facilities to effectively manage the infection.
Regarding surveillance, she emphasised that it is currently insufficient, with low-risk communication efforts across the continent.
Despite this, she stated, mpox continues to spread among high-risk populations, including children, women, and commercial sex workers.
She continued, “We must work together across all African countries to enhance surveillance and improve access to vaccines and other resources. mpox is not only spreading within Africa but has also become a global issue, with imported cases being reported worldwide.
“The variant circulating in the Congo differs from the ones in West Africa and Nigeria. In the Congo, the variant is spreading from person to person, rather than through contact with animals or during game hunting.
“Africa CDC has reached out to health ministers across the continent to develop a coordinated control strategy to combat the spread of the disease.”
Speaking further, another epidemiologist and Professor of Public Health at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Tanimola Akande, said that the WHO had not made a declaration to end mpox in Africa but rather a six-month strategy.
Akande stated, “The WHO has developed a strategic framework for the prevention and control of mpox for 2024-2027. This framework is crucial as a global roadmap for controlling mpox, not just within Africa.
“Currently, there is no specific deadline for eliminating mpox in Africa. However, there are significant challenges to its control, including a low supply of vaccines, inadequate surveillance, and limited public awareness of preventive measures.”
Akande, who is also a former National Chairman of the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, emphasised that African countries are still grappling with controlling multiple diseases.
He noted that while valuable lessons are learnt through these efforts, government funding for disease control programmes remains insufficient, with a continued heavy reliance on donor support.
Akande highlighted that Africa now has functional organisations coordinating disease control efforts, including sub-regional bodies, which have bolstered the fight against mpox in the region.
“These organisations are enhancing disease control efforts across Africa. However, governments at all levels need to commit more resources to health security,” the epidemiologist added.
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