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Continental Mpox Response, Intra-Action Review (IAR) | February 2025

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Under the leadership of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the joint mpox continental intra-action review (IAR) successfully concluded on December 18, 2024. This landmark event brought together nearly 60 participants, including representatives from Africa CDC, WHO, nine affected Member States, and
strategic partners. The review aimed to evaluate the first three months of the continental response to mpox, following the launch of the six-month mpox Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan.

The review highlighted significant progress in the response to the outbreak. Key achievements include the establishment of a continental mpox Incident Management System and a strategic plan co-led by Africa CDC and WHO, which ensured a unified approach to tackling mpox outbreaks across Africa. Notable milestones included targeted risk communication campaigns to
combat stigma and misinformation, the decentralization of mpox testing through the GeneXpert network, and the delivery of 365,000 vaccine doses to high-risk populations across three countries. Additionally, over 48 ongoing research projects provided critical evidence to guide public health strategies, focusing on epidemiological, behavioral, and clinical aspects of mpox.

Despite these accomplishments, the IAR identified persistent challenges that threaten the response's effectiveness. Resource limitations and delays in disbursement of funds hindered timely interventions, while inconsistencies in reporting and data quality undermined evidencebased decision-making. Societal stigma and misinformation continued to weaken public trust,
and the inconsistent implementation of cross-border containment measures complicated regional coordination. Furthermore, long laboratory turnaround times in remote and heavily affected areas impeded timely diagnostics and response efforts.

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