Mpox Emergency Declaration: Africa CDC Sets Example for Latin America's Dengue, says AHF

MEXICO CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On August 13, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declared the ongoing mpox outbreak a public health emergency of continental security, marking the first time a regional agency has done so independently of the World Health Organization (WHO). This declaration came as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) faces an exponential rise in mpox cases, with over 17,000 confirmed and suspected cases and 511 reported deaths. The outbreak has spread to 16 African countries, including some previously unaffected, such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.

Notably, Africa CDC, headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, took the initiative to declare this emergency even a day before WHO issued its declaration of Mpox as a public health emergency of international concern. This proactive stance highlights the importance of regional leadership in addressing public health threats.

Dr. Jorge Saavedra, Executive Director of the AHF Global Public Health Institute, stated, "The timely action of Africa CDC serves as a crucial example for other regions facing similar public health threats." He added, "In Latin America, for instance, the dengue outbreak has reached alarming proportions, with over 11 million cases reported this year alone — 650 times the number of mpox cases in Africa — and over 6,000 deaths, 12 times more than the fatalities in Africa. Despite the severity of the dengue crisis, no one has declared it a regional emergency, and each country focuses on national responses one by one, as if the mosquito does not cross our borders, while Africa CDC set the precedent for WHO to follow. It seems that in Latin America, we are waiting for WHO from Washington or Geneva to tell us if dengue is a regional emergency."

Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, emphasized that the declaration is not merely symbolic but a necessary step to unify global and regional cooperation. "We must be proactive and aggressive in our efforts to eliminate this threat," said Kaseya. This sentiment reflects the growing call in Latin America for the establishment of a Latin American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (LATAM CDC), a regional body dedicated to leading the fight against emerging health threats like dengue.

Dr. Patricia García, former Minister of Health of Peru and current principal professor at the Public Health Faculty at the Peruvian University Cayetano Heredia, praised Africa CDC's decisive action.

“Africa CDC has set a powerful example of regional public health leadership. Its swift response to the mpox outbreak is a testament to the effectiveness of a coordinated, continent-wide approach,” said Garcia. “Latin America must learn from this and urgently establish its own CDC to address the recurring and emerging health threats we face. A LATAM CDC would allow us to respond more efficiently, share resources, and protect the health of our populations in a unified manner.”

The need for such an institution was highlighted in a recent commentary in The Lancet, which underscored the challenges Latin America faces in regional management during a public health crisis. In particular, the lack of coordinated responses and missed opportunities to share resources and act collectively during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Latin America’s current fragmented approach has led to repeated public health crises, with countries individually struggling to combat diseases that know no borders. Establishing a LATAM CDC would enable a more effective response based on science, free from political interference, and ensure that the region is better prepared for future pandemics and outbreaks.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 2 million clients in 47 countries worldwide in the U.S., Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare