Africa CDC and WHO Launch Joint Plan to Combat Mpox Outbreak

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have launched a continental initiative to address the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa, Anadolu Agency reported yesterday.

Announced in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, the plan aims to enhance surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, and vaccination efforts across the continent.

With a budget of $600 million, the Mpox Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan will support 29 Member States in both response and preparedness. Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya emphasized the importance of a coordinated approach, stating, “This unified strategy ensures that all partners are aligned on common objectives.”

WHO Regional Director Matshidiso Moeti highlighted the need for community engagement and the availability of critical countermeasures. Recently, Congo received its first shipment of mpox vaccines, marking a significant step in curbing the outbreak. The WHO declared mpox a global public health emergency on August 14, with Africa CDC following suit the day before.