MPOX TRACKER

The mpox outbreak in Africa underscores the urgent need for cross-border coordination. With over 16,000 confirmed cases and more than 1,180 deaths, 12 African nations have committed to a unified response framework. This agreement—facilitated by the World Bank, Africa CDC, WHO, and partners—will improve surveillance, streamline data sharing, and address transmission challenges across borders. Epidemics respect no borders; thus, regional cooperation is critical. By aligning resources and strengthening governance, Africa is taking a proactive stance in disease containment, resilience building, and equitable health access. It’s a blueprint for managing not only mpox but all future health emergencies.

300-Word Editorial
As mpox continues to challenge Africa’s public health systems—with over 16,000 confirmed cases and nearly 1,200 deaths in 22 countries—the formation of a cross-border collaboration agreement among 12 nations marks a pivotal step forward. Spearheaded by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Malawi, Uganda, and others, this regional initiative aims to overcome the longstanding limitations of fragmented disease response.

The initiative emerged from a high-level meeting in Nairobi, organized by the World Bank, Africa CDC, WHO, UNICEF, and IOM. It reflects a shared recognition that diseases like mpox transcend national boundaries. Dr. Linda Mobula of the World Bank aptly stated, “Epidemics do not have borders,” emphasizing the importance of harmonized political will, governance structures, and resource mobilization.

Key pillars of the collaboration include coordinated surveillance, data-sharing protocols, synchronized vaccination strategies, and joint outbreak containment activities. The move also addresses broader health system gaps—such as underfunded laboratories and inconsistent risk communication—by facilitating sustainable financial and technical support from international partners.

Africa CDC’s Professor Yap Boum II noted that innovation and integration must drive this collaboration, especially given limited resources. The joint approach not only addresses mpox but also serves as a model for broader epidemic preparedness across Africa.

This regional compact sets a new precedent in health diplomacy. It empowers member states to move from reactive to proactive public health strategies. By leveraging collective strength, these nations are not only responding to a current crisis but also fortifying the continent’s long-term epidemic resilience.

The international community should recognize this as a turning point—and rally with financial and technical support to amplify the momentum. Mpox may be the current challenge, but the infrastructure built today will be critical for combating tomorrow’s outbreaks.