Africa CDC trains 13 countries on Mpox molecular detection, reporting

The Africa Centre for Disease Control (AFCDC) and the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) have begun training in molecular testing, sequencing, and reporting on Monkey Pox (Mpox) cases.

The training was designed to equip African Union (AU) Member States with the necessary skills to accurately detect, effectively monitor, and report the spread and evolution of Mpox clades.

The workshop covered a combination of theoretical and hands-on training in the collection and handling of Mpox-suspected specimens, isolation of nucleic acid, and detection of Mpox virus (MPXV) using RT-PCR assay, sequencing, data analyses, as well as reporting of results for public health interventions.

AFCDC noted that given the rise in Mpox cases, there is a need to strengthen molecular testing and genomics-based surveillance in the region. Africa CDC and INRB also plan to distribute validated MPXV RT-PCR kits to expand testing across the continent.

About 13 participants from the national reference laboratories of six Member States, namely Burundi, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, and the Republic of Congo were trained.

Head of the Division of Laboratory Systems, Africa CDC, Dr Yenew Kebede, said that the centre has prioritised expanding and decentralising Mpox testing and sequencing in its continental response plan adding that the training is timely and critical to building on and re-training experts to expand Mpox testing capacity and capability across the continent.

He said: “We will continue to organise additional hands-on training programmes and distribute testing kits to other AU Member States to strengthen Mpox surveillance across the continent.”

Kebede stated that the significant increase in Mpox cases and deaths across Africa underscores the urgent need to enhance in-country and cross-border surveillance capabilities.

“We must rapidly identify and track the circulating Mpox clades. Scaling up genomics surveillance is crucial to understanding the virus’s spread, evolution, and potential for new variants, enabling us to implement targeted public health interventions,” he added.

On his part, INRB Director General, National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB), Prof Jean-Jacques Muyembe, observed that accelerated scale-up of Mpox testing and sequencing is critical for an effective response.

Muyembe said: “We are delighted to partner with the Africa CDC to conduct this training and share our experiences and expertise on Mpox testing and sequencing.”

The Chief of Staff and Head of the Executive Office, Africa CDC and Incident Manager for Mpox Outbreak Response in Africa, Dr Ngashi Ngongo, stated that Africa CDC would continue to support the AU Member States in strengthening their capacity and capability to detect and respond to the Mpox outbreak.

“We continue to coordinate, support, and advocate for increased access to diagnostics, optimised, decentralised, and quality-assured Mpox testing across Member States,” he said.

Globally, the multi-country outbreak of Mpox has led to 116 countries and territories in all WHO regions reporting 99,176 confirmed cases and 208 deaths (CFR 0.2 per cent) between May 2022 and June 2024.

MEANWHILE, the Director, Centre for Human and Zoonotic Virology (CHAZVY) University of Lagos/Hospital Virologist, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Prof Sunday Omilabu, stressed the need for scientists to engage in more Mpox surveillance.

Omilabu told The Guardian that the MPOX disease is highly transmissible upon contact with the virus through the fluids coming from the pustules and nodular rashes on the patient’s skin, adding that the virus can contaminate door knobs, bedding, and other surfaces.

To prevent the disease and the virus from spreading, he advised that infected persons must not mingle with the rest of the people but should strictly be on barrier nursing.

In a related development, the Africa CDC is to host a research response conference aimed at addressing the urgent global challenge posed by the mpox virus. According to the CDC, the conference is designed to foster a collaborative and open environment where researchers, public health officials, and stakeholders from affected countries can take the lead in shaping the research agenda.

“Our collective goal is to align research efforts with outbreak response strategies to effectively mitigate morbidity and mortality, halt transmission, as well as advance the development of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics to prevent future outbreaks.”