To enhance the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (Africa CDC) ability to manage mpox cases more effectively, Singapore’s Ministry of Health will offer a support package that includes diagnostic equipment and testing materials, which will allow for up to 50,000 tests.
On August 13, 2024, the Africa CDC officially labeled the ongoing mpox outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS). The next day, on August 14, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) elevated the situation by declaring it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), in response to its rapid spread around the world.
As of November 2024, the mpox outbreak had reached 19 countries within the African Union, with more than 12,000 confirmed cases reported since the beginning of the year. The surge in cases is largely attributed to outbreaks in countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Burundi.
One major challenge in controlling the mpox outbreak in Africa is the shortage of essential testing supplies. This has hindered efforts to expand laboratory testing, detect cases, and track contacts effectively. Effective case management and contact tracing are essential for reinforcing public health efforts. In response, the Africa CDC and WHO have rolled out a collaborative continental strategy focused on expanding mpox testing.
The laboratory testing strategy includes: enhancing mpox testing capacity by supporting centralized Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) sites, activating additional testing locations, deploying tests closer to care points, training laboratory personnel, and providing adequate testing supplies.