Prof. Yap Boum II, Deputy Incident Manager for Mpox at the Africa CDC Incident Management Support Team (IMST), shared the developments during the agency’s weekly high-level regional news conference on Friday.
“The discussions revolve around how we transition from emergency response to routine preparedness and response, and what lessons we have learned from managing outbreaks across the continent,” Boum II said.
Reviewing Emergency Response Systems
The agency is reviewing the performance of its IMST, a structure deployed during major outbreaks, to determine how emergency response systems can be incorporated into a permanent preparedness framework. This review is being conducted with partners including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC).
“The exercise will lead to the development of a coordinated continental platform that combines preparedness and response systems to strengthen Africa’s health security architecture,” Boum II explained. He emphasized that recent outbreaks have provided opportunities to reinforce surveillance systems, promote research collaboration, and enhance countries’ capacity to respond rapidly to health emergencies.
Ongoing Outbreaks and Targeted Interventions
Africa CDC continues to monitor several outbreaks across the continent while providing technical support to affected countries.
- Malawi: The agency has been engaged with local authorities over a malaria outbreak that has recorded 30 confirmed deaths out of 1,551 hospital admissions. Recent weeks have seen a more than 30 percent increase in reported cases, particularly affecting pregnant women and children, with children accounting for roughly 12 percent of cases. Discussions with authorities have focused on hotspot areas such as Katima Mulilo and other affected districts to implement targeted interventions. These measures include reactive training for health workers, strengthening surveillance, and intensifying community education, taking into account environmental factors influencing malaria. Africa CDC plans to deploy a technical mission to Malawi in the coming weeks.
Vaccine Delivery Challenges
Prof. Boum II highlighted difficulties in sustaining vaccination campaigns in some countries. As outbreaks decline in Angola and South Africa, community engagement in vaccination programs has decreased. Funding constraints have also impacted vaccine deployment, as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has reduced delivery support.
Previously, Gavi provided up to 12 million dollars in delivery support, but many countries now must finance vaccine distribution using domestic resources. Uganda, for instance, has utilized about 88 percent of received vaccines, with nearly three-quarters of distribution funded locally. Boum II noted that this trend reflects an increasing domestic investment in national health systems.
Cholera and Other Infectious Diseases
Cholera remains a major public health challenge in Africa. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) accounts for roughly 70 percent of reported cholera cases and nearly 95 percent of deaths during certain reporting periods. Prolonged conflict has displaced millions into overcrowded camps with limited access to sanitation and clean water. The DRC is also dealing with other outbreaks, including meningitis, adding pressure to its health system. Authorities are conducting reactive vaccination campaigns in affected provinces while planning preventive vaccination programs in high-risk communities to provide longer-term protection.
Mozambique has reported a gradual decline in cholera cases over the past three weeks following intensified response measures. Preventive vaccination campaigns are targeting 1.7 million people, while reactive campaigns cover about 3.3 million individuals in high-risk areas. Authorities are also strengthening cholera treatment centers, expanding access to safe water, and distributing sanitation kits. A regional technical mission will soon be deployed to support surveillance, case management, and water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions.
Progress in Other Countries
- Namibia: Gradually exiting a malaria outbreak, the country has reported only three confirmed cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, with no deaths, due to strong surveillance systems.
- Madagascar: Recorded a sharp rise in cases but has implemented an innovative fractional vaccine dosing strategy, allowing one dose to cover three to four people. The country is also recovering from cyclone impacts, prompting the African Union to plan a support mission to strengthen health responses and prevent secondary outbreaks such as cholera.
- Burundi: Authorities reported about 16,000 cases, with a relatively low case fatality rate of 0.4 percent, thanks to improved surveillance, contact tracing, and coordination with partners.
- Liberia: Showing signs of stabilization, with a small number of cases in recent weeks and a test positivity rate of about two percent.
Strengthening Continental Health Systems
Africa CDC is convening discussions in Addis Ababa to boost local manufacturing of vaccines, diagnostics, and medical supplies, reducing the continent’s reliance on external sources during health emergencies. More than five million vaccine doses have already been shipped to 17 African countries, with 22 countries granting regulatory approval for their use.
Prof. Boum II emphasized that vaccination remains a key tool in outbreak control, but it must be complemented by robust surveillance, public health education, and improved access to water and sanitation. Lessons learned from recent outbreaks will inform the development of a comprehensive continental framework that integrates preparedness and response systems.
Experts note that transitioning from emergency response structures to permanent preparedness mechanisms is critical for strengthening Africa’s ability to manage future pandemics and other health emergencies.