The World Health Organisation (WHO) had ended the public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) for mpox outbreaks in Africa, reports CIDRAP, but the Africa CDC, however, has opted to extend the public health emergency of continental security (PHECS) status, after a meeting of its own mpox emergency committee.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said last week that the WHO’s mpox emergency committee, which has been meeting every three months, had based its decision on cases and deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and other hot spots, including Burundi, Sierra Leone, and Uganda, reports CIDRAP.
“We also have a better understanding of the drivers of transmission and the risk factors for severity… the most affected countries have developed a sustained response capacity,” he said.
He added that lifting the emergency declaration doesn’t mean the threat is over or that the response will stop. The possibility of new flare-ups remains, which he said would require adequate surveillance and response capacity.
Africa CDC extends continental health emergency
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), however, extended the public health emergency of continental security (PHECS) last week.
The agency had declared the emergency on 13 August 2024, marking Africa CDC’s first for a health event.
In a statement, it said the downward trends aren’t yet stable enough to justify lifting the emergency. “The unanimous decision underscores both the fragility of recent gains and the need to sustain Africa’s collective momentum until mpox is under durable control,” it said.
Members also warned that maintaining the PHECS is essential for preserving political will, mobilising resources, and keeping countries on high alert.
Though cases are down sharply from a peak in May, mpox surges have affected Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Zambia, and Tanzania, with new cases reported in Malawi, Ethiopia, Senegal, Togo, The Gambia, and Mozambique.
While acknowledging improvements in testing coverage and strong progress with vaccination, Africa CDC said major concerns include higher-than-average death rates in a handful of countries and reduced international support, including the US-based Pepfar programme for HIV+ patients, who are at greater risk for severe mpox illness and death.
Cases down in DRC but up in Kenya
Yap Boum, PhD, MPH, deputy incident manager for Africa CDC’s mpox response, said cases continue an encouraging decline in the DRC, but that health officials were seeing a shift in cases from the traditional hot spots to more central provinces. He noted that the situation in Sierra Leone continues to stabilise, with low but persistent transmission.
Outbreak responders in Ghana, which is battling clade 2b, have reported a significant drop in cases and a decline in test positivity, he said.
Kenya, battling clade 1b, is one of the areas of concern, with cases on the rise, of which 43% are in Mombasa, with illnesses also reported in Nairobi, the capital, Boum said. He noted that tracking patients’ sexual contacts is challenging and that Kenya will soon launch an mpox vaccine campaign.
CIDRAP article – WHO winds down mpox public health emergency (Open access)
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WHO extends mpox emergency after African surge
Africa CDC to review mpox emergency status