The response to the mpox outbreak in Africa is a first in many ways — and represents a new method of confronting health emergencies for the continent.
It’s the first time the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention declared a continental health emergency and created a continental incident management team. And it’s the first time Africa will have one collective plan and budget for a health response.
It’s “a testimony that Africa can lead a response and can be supported by partners,” Africa CDC’s Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya said during a press briefing on Tuesday.