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African scientists face challenges in responding to mpox virus mutation

African scientists face challenges in responding to mpox virus mutation

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Scientists studying the new mpox strain report that it is mutating faster than expected, creating uncertainties about the virus's characteristics, severity, and transmission. This rapid mutation complicates the response to the outbreak, which has been particularly severe in Africa. Despite the World Health Organization declaring a global health emergency, some areas lack the necessary funding and equipment to effectively track the virus's changes. Nigeria has received 10,000 doses of a vaccine to combat mpox, having secured them before the global health emergency was declared. However, the delay in providing vaccines to Africa has raised concerns about the international response to global health emergencies, with medical officials and scientists warning of worrying problems in the way international agencies deal with such crises.

Jean Kaseya
Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1. We told Bavarian Nordic that we need a transfer of technology towards African manufacturers.
Dimie Ogoina
Niger Delta University Hospital
1. I worry that in Africa, we are working blindly.
2. And I worry about the fact that the virus seems to be mutating and producing new strains.
Helen Rees
Wits RHI Research Institute
1. Those stockpiles are obviously from a country perspective to protect their own citizens. But when you have a global emergency like this, every country should look at its stockpile and say 'can we actually help globally?'
Katharina Schroeder
Save the Children
1. They understand this is mpox, they understand this is dangerous for their family. But they still don't go into isolation because they live day by day. They don't have enough to eat.
2. The health centers outside the city need to be equipped to triage patients ... because often they're looking for things like gloves and masks.
Jimmy Whitworth
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
1. This appears to be spreading through sexual contact, and this time it is going from person to person.
2. The vaccine isn't even licensed in those countries.
3. It is a huge expense to vaccinate just the DRC. If you asked people in the DRC last year what the higher priority was – was it the measles or mpox vaccine? – they would have said 'measles vaccine.' And so would anybody else in public health because that was a bigger threat then.
Miguel Paredes
Fred Hutchison Cancer Center
1. All the human-to-human cases of mpox have this APOBEC signature of mutations, which means that it's mutating a little bit more rapidly than we would expect.
Mary Malisi
1. We are directed to hand washing points on arrival in both countries. When I come back to Kenya, I have to be tested. Some people are taken for further examinations by health officials when they present some symptoms.

African scientists face challenges in responding to mpox virus mutation

Mpox Pandemic

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