The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has issued a grave warning regarding the rapidly escalating public health emergencies across the African continent, where an alarming average of three new disease outbreaks is being recorded each week. This revelation underscores the urgent need for a concerted effort to combat the proliferating public health challenges that are confronting Africa.
Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa CDC, articulated these concerns during a media briefing on Thursday, which addressed the multi-country outbreak of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) in Africa, alongside other pressing health emergencies. Kaseya highlighted the continent’s ongoing struggle with recurrent disease outbreaks, which have now reached a critical juncture, necessitating immediate and intensified interventions.
“We are witnessing a marked increase in the frequency of outbreaks across Africa,” Kaseya stated, noting that the continent has transitioned from reporting an average of nearly two new outbreaks per week to three. This troubling trend was reflected in the 167 outbreaks documented across 42 African Union (AU) member states last year alone.
The Africa CDC has identified the top five most frequently reported outbreaks on the continent as mpox, cholera, dengue, measles, and Lassa fever. These diseases, Kaseya noted, account for a staggering 77 per cent of all reported cases and 81.4 per cent of deaths related to outbreaks in Africa.
Data from the AU’s specialised healthcare agency further reveal that at least 16 countries across all five regions of Africa have been affected by the mpox outbreak. Since January 2022, some 38,465 mpox cases and 1,456 deaths have been reported on the continent, including 887 cases and five deaths in the past week alone.
The agency’s recent epidemic intelligence report, published last week, also disclosed that since the start of this year, 128,374 cholera cases and 1,943 related deaths have been reported from 16 member states, with a case fatality rate of 1.51 per cent. The persistence of these outbreaks, coupled with the increasing mortality rates, is a clear indicator of the heightened public health risks facing the continent.
Particularly concerning is the ongoing mpox outbreak, which has emerged as the most pressing public health challenge currently facing Africa. In this context, Kaseya underscored the potential necessity of declaring a public health emergency of continental security, a move that may be imminent.
“The declaration of mpox as a public health emergency of continental security is critical and, perhaps, could be made as early as next week,” Kaseya revealed. Such a declaration would not only facilitate a more robust mobilisation of resources but would also enhance the international notification mechanism, mandating AU member states to inform the Africa CDC of any health measures implemented in response to the emergency.
“When we declare a public health emergency of continental security, we are enhancing funding, mobilising domestic resources, and securing partner contributions to bolster the response to the outbreak,” Kaseya emphasised.
As the continent grapples with this intensifying public health crisis, the urgency for collaborative and well-coordinated efforts to mitigate the impact of these outbreaks cannot be overstated. The situation demands immediate and sustained action to safeguard the health and well-being of populations across Africa.
