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OUTBREAKS RESPONSE IN AFRICA: Joint Mpox Continental Activity Report

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

During the reporting period, significant progress was made in strengthening the mpox response across the continent. The lessons learned and challenges identified during the joint mpox continental intra-action review (IAR), which took place successfully in December 2024 in Addis Ababa have guided the development of the action plan for the response to the mpox epidemic in January and February 2025.

Country support is ongoing through country visits including DRC, Uganda and Burundi, weekly deep dives with priority countries, experience sharing between countries and technical support by continental IMST pillars. Support has been provided to some countries, remotely or on-site, to conduct the intra-action review. The Financial Tracking Mechanism (FTM) continues to provide a comprehensive assessment of financing, including pledges, commitments, and disbursements. Strengthening decentralization
of laboratory diagnostic capacities is ongoing. Guidelines and technical documents have been developed/updated and shared with countries, such as updated guidelines on infection prevention and control and clinical management, SOPs for data cleaning and
standardization, and infodemic management guides. Harmonized and Integrated mpox data from surveillance, laboratory, and treatment centers set up in DRC. Risk communication and community engagement have reduced the stigma of mpox patients and increased acceptance of vaccination against mpox. Through coordinated efforts a total of 1.4 million doses of vaccines have been allocated to 12 countries, among which 7 countries have already received 687,780 doses and 5 countries are currently vaccinating (DRC, Rwanda, Uganda, Central African Republic and Nigeria).

However, despite these accomplishments, challenges such as poor decentralization of the response at sub national level, data incompleteness and timeliness in many countries, slow progress in the decentralization of laboratory capacity, low testing coverage, passive surveillance and the low vaccination coverage hamper the response. In addition to that, the funding freeze from the USG has further weakened response capacities, particularly for sample transportation, laboratory testing, and vaccine deployment. The conflict in Eastern DRC has worsened disease control efforts, leading to increased migration of affected populations into neighboring countries. Given this crossborder movement, the risk of further regional spread is very high.

Moving forward, priorities include the ongoing development of a Response and Legacy plan to guide response efforts from March to August 2025. The intensification phase of this plan, from March to May 2025 will ensure the control of human-to-human transmission of mpox, while the second phase from June to August 2025 will concentrate on resilience and Legacy of the response.

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