WHO-backed integrated testing model strengthens response to mpox, HIV, and syphilis
July 2, 2025
As mpox cases climb in Central Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is setting a precedent with its integrated HIV and syphilis testing program within mpox care. Backed by WHO, the initiative enhances early diagnosis and treatment, especially for high-risk populations. Initial results from Kinshasa show promising uptake and improved case detection. Yet, stock-outs and limited treatment sites highlight the fragility of health infrastructure. The DRC’s approach is a replicable model for resource-limited settings, showing that public health responses to outbreaks can—and must—bridge gaps in broader disease surveillance and care.
As mpox continues to surge across Central Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is pioneering a bold and necessary innovation: integrating HIV and syphilis testing into mpox management. With support from the World Health Organization (WHO), this approach marks a vital step toward more holistic outbreak responses in resource-limited settings.
Clinicians in Kinshasa—where the program was launched—are using dual rapid diagnostic tests to screen patients for HIV and syphilis at mpox treatment centers. Preliminary data between April and early June 2025 reveal that among 697 people tested, 5% were HIV-positive (with 27 co-infected with mpox), and 1% tested positive for syphilis. These are more than statistics—they are missed diagnoses now being captured, thanks to integrated screening.
Such integration matters. Research shows that people with HIV, particularly those not virally suppressed, are at greater risk of severe mpox illness and death. Likewise, untreated syphilis remains a leading cause of stillbirth globally. Embedding STI services within outbreak responses not only boosts early detection and treatment but strengthens maternal health and reinforces equity in disease prevention.
Yet challenges remain. Test kit shortages, delays in mpox diagnostics, and a lack of advanced care sites—only one is operating in Kinshasa—are threatening momentum. Despite these hurdles, national health authorities, in coordination with WHO and partners, are scaling up the program to other high-risk provinces and integrating mpox care into HIV treatment centers.
The DRC's approach is a model of resilient, integrated public health in action. It bridges outbreak response with routine care, ensuring that epidemic control does not come at the expense of ongoing health needs. As countries brace for the next health emergency, the DRC is proving that integrated care is not just possible—it is essential.