Africa CDC and European Commission Launch New Initiative to Strengthen Mpox Testing and Sequencing Across Africa
July 31, 2025
The launch of the Partnership to Accelerate Mpox Testing and Sequencing in Africa (PAMTA) marks a major milestone in EU–Africa health cooperation. With €9.4 million in co-funding from the EU4Health 2024 Work Programme, the initiative aims to deliver over 150,000 mpox tests, boost genomic sequencing, train health workers, and promote local test kit manufacturing. Led by Africa CDC and ASLM, PAMTA will close diagnostic gaps and reinforce outbreak resilience across the continent. As Africa grapples with ongoing mpox outbreaks, this partnership sets a vital precedent for self-reliant, continent-wide epidemic preparedness and real-time surveillance infrastructure.
Amid intensifying mpox outbreaks and rising global biosecurity risks, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the European Commission have launched the Partnership to Accelerate Mpox Testing and Sequencing in Africa (PAMTA), a transformative €9.4 million initiative co-funded under the EU4Health 2024 Work Programme. With implementation beginning in June 2025, PAMTA aims to build sustainable outbreak response systems by expanding diagnostic, sequencing, and manufacturing capacity across Africa.
PAMTA will support more than 150,000 mpox tests, expand genomic sequencing to monitor viral mutations and transmission patterns, and train African scientists in diagnostics, genomics, and bioinformatics. A critical component of the initiative is the promotion of locally produced and validated test kits—laying the foundation for sustainable diagnostics beyond mpox.
Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya emphasized the urgency of the project, describing it as a strategic step toward building agile, self-reliant health systems across the continent. The initiative also reflects the EU’s broader commitment to bolstering epidemic preparedness in Africa, building on earlier efforts such as the donation of over 600,000 vaccine doses and ongoing research under the MPX-RESPONSE and EDCTP3 consortia.
Notably, PAMTA is the first health initiative jointly signed by the European Commission and Africa CDC, underscoring a maturing partnership based on mutual trust and shared objectives. Deputy Head of DG HERA Laurent Muschel affirmed this commitment, noting PAMTA’s alignment with broader medical countermeasures—including innovation, vaccine deployment, and manufacturing.
In a continent where mpox remains a serious health threat, PAMTA’s launch is not only timely—it is foundational. By strengthening diagnostics and enabling real-time response to future outbreaks, PAMTA lays the groundwork for a new era of health sovereignty, resilience, and scientific collaboration between Africa and Europe.