Africa is currently facing significant health challenges with two notable outbreaks: the Marburg virus and Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox. Rwanda has reported its first Marburg virus outbreak, confirming 62 cases, of which 38 patients have recovered and 15 have tragically died. Marburg, closely related to Ebola, is notorious for its high fatality rate, reaching up to 88%. Fortunately, there are promising indicators with new cases decreasing substantially since the outbreak’s initial weeks.
Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, Rwanda's Health Minister, expressed optimism, stating most patients now show signs of recovery, even without established vaccines or specific treatments. Meanwhile, to prevent the virus from spreading beyond its borders, the United States has implemented stricter screening measures for travelers coming from Rwanda. They’ll undergo temperature checks and answer questions about symptoms as they arrive at select airports, including JFK, Chicago O’Hare, and Washington-Dulles International.
Simultaneously, another health crisis looms as the Mpox virus continues its relentless spread across Africa. New cases have recently emerged from Zambia and Zimbabwe, underscoring the gravity of the situation. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified the new Clade 1b variant of Mpox, which transmits more easily and raises concerns among health officials.
Since April, Mpox has invaded 18 African countries and claimed more than 900 lives, centered primarily around the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Responding to the escalation, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Mpox a global health emergency for the second consecutive year this past August. The situation requires urgent attention as the Africa CDC estimates it needs approximately 10 million vaccine doses and $600 million to effectively control this outbreak.
Despite the rising number of infections, vaccination rates across the African continent remain alarmingly low. Many nations continue to suffer from limited access to vaccines, compounded by delays and difficulties reminiscent of the early days of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. The Democratic Republic of Congo recently received its first batch of 265,000 doses of the MVA-BN vaccine, but this amount is nowhere near sufficient to quell the surge.
K Kenya, for example, has reported cases across multiple counties, confirming 14 cases and one death. Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa announced the implementation of rigorous contact tracing efforts to manage the outbreak. Out of the identified 68 contacts, 61 have successfully completed the follow-up treatment, with three testing positive for Mpox.
Authorities continue emphasizing contact tracing, vaccination campaigns, and screening efforts as they deal with Mpox outbreaks. This means actively tracking those who have been potentially exposed and providing the necessary support to protect the public. For Kenya, where Mpox clade I remains the only known strain circulating, the timely receipt of test kits from the WHO is helping to improve testing capacity and address sample backlogs.
The Africa CDC's Director General, Jean Kaseya, has expressed deep concern over the rapid categories of Mpox cases, calling for immediate and decisive action. He urged health officials and governments to stop merely discussing solutions and start implementing concrete actions to curb the crisis. Kaseya emphasized, "If we continue with meetings and discussions, we will not succeed. We ought to finalize discussions next week to translate pledges to concrete money, tools, and vaccines for our countries."
While health authorities coordinate responses on the ground, the lack of adequate vaccination infrastructure hampers many nations' abilities to combat deadly outbreaks. The issues with vaccine access have often been equated to the concept of "vaccine apartheid," previously highlighted during the global fight against COVID-19. This term captures the idea of wealthier nations hoarding vaccines at states less equipped to procure adequate quantities.
Both the Marburg and Mpox outbreaks underline the importance of global solidarity. Countries facing such health crises cannot do so alone. The spread of diseases recognizes no borders, and coordinated, intensified global efforts become imperative to handle these public health threats effectively.
Health officials are calling upon communities to stay alert, highlighting the necessity of sustained vigilance to not only manage existing infections but to prepare for potential future outbreaks. Just as global cooperation proved central during the pandemic, it must also be integral now. Nations must share resources, knowledge, and support to curb the tide of these outbreaks.
With both Marburg and Mpox continuing to evolve and threaten public health, it’s clear we are at a pivotal moment. How health leaders step up to confront these diseases could shape the continent's health future significantly.'
