ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – The Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Dr. Jean Kaseya, has called for increased budgetary support to tackle the growing threat of Mpox and other infectious diseases across the continent.
By Williametta Jabbah, contributing writer
Speaking during the agency’s weekly press briefing on Thursday, Dr. Kaseya emphasized that eliminating Mpox outbreaks in Africa will require a holistic and coordinated approach, including sustained vaccine access, surveillance, and strategic health investments.
He disclosed that Africa has so far received over one million doses of the Mpox vaccine, with eleven countries benefiting from the distribution. Of these, seven countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia, are actively rolling out vaccination campaigns.
Dr. Kaseya raised concern over the surge in cases in Sierra Leone, which currently accounts for 58.2% of all confirmed Mpox cases in Africa. The alarming spike in West Africa has prompted renewed calls for expanded vaccination efforts and intensified response mechanisms.
Also speaking during the briefing, Dr. Yap Boum II, Deputy Incident Manager for Mpox at Africa CDC, stressed the urgency of accelerating vaccine procurement to meet the continent’s needs.
“We need at least 6.4 million doses of the Mpox vaccine between now and August 2025 to bring the outbreaks under control,” Dr. Boum stated. “Delays in vaccine procurement could prolong the crisis and increase the risk of new variants emerging.”
He emphasized the importance of mobilizing healthcare workers and field epidemiologists to strengthen data collection, testing, and surveillance systems across Africa.
“A robust surveillance system, supported by trained personnel and reliable data, is crucial to contain current outbreaks and prevent future ones,” he said.
The Africa CDC continues to advocate for international partnerships and domestic funding commitments to bolster the continent’s capacity to respond to infectious disease threats, including Mpox.
