Mpox testing initiative launched in Africa as outbreaks continue
August 1, 2025
Africa CDC and the European Commission have launched PAMTA, a €9.4 million initiative to expand mpox diagnostics, genomic sequencing, and local test kit manufacturing across Africa. Announced as Gambia became the 25th affected country, PAMTA supports over 150,000 tests, with the goal of boosting surveillance, resilience, and rapid response. The latest data shows over 91,000 suspected mpox cases and 667 deaths in 2025 alone. As community spread of clade 1b surges in nations like Uganda and Mozambique, PAMTA's integrated approach marks a critical turning point in Africa–EU health security cooperation and sustainable outbreak management.
In response to escalating mpox outbreaks across Africa, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the European Commission have officially launched the Partnership to Accelerate Mpox Testing and Sequencing in Africa (PAMTA). With a €9.4 million investment under the EU4Health 2024 Work Programme, PAMTA aims to scale up diagnostics, genomic sequencing, training, and local production of testing kits over three years.
This initiative arrives at a crucial time. Gambia has become the 25th African country affected by mpox, and more than 91,000 suspected cases—including nearly 28,400 confirmed infections—have been reported across the continent in 2025. The hardest-hit countries—DRC, Uganda, and Sierra Leone—have experienced fluctuating case trends, with DRC reporting 28,928 confirmed cases and 1,909 deaths. Though confirmed cases declined in DRC and Uganda, Sierra Leone saw increases, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the outbreak.
PAMTA’s launch is a milestone in Africa–EU health diplomacy. As Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya noted, PAMTA builds public health resilience and sets a “new benchmark” for diagnostics and response. It follows EU vaccine donations and complements broader initiatives like MPX-RESPONSE and EDCTP3, reinforcing Africa’s pathogen genomics and laboratory networks.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized the urgency of rapid containment, warning that uncontained mpox outbreaks risk sustained community transmission. Uganda continues to report Clade 1b transmission among young adults, with HIV-positive individuals disproportionately affected. Mozambique has also identified Clade 1b for the first time.
With over 890,000 vaccine doses administered and rising case counts in non-African countries like China, the UK, and Australia, PAMTA’s impact could extend beyond borders. By integrating outbreak response with long-term capacity building, the initiative offers a blueprint for future pandemic preparedness—anchored in equity, innovation, and global solidarity.