The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has officially approved a locally produced mpox diagnostic test from Morocco, marking a significant achievement in the continent’s battle against the ongoing outbreak.
The endorsement, announced on Thursday, comes after the Africa CDC declared mpox a public health emergency in Africa three months ago, underscoring the escalating need for effective tools to control the spread of the virus. The approval is seen as a major step in enhancing Africa’s self-reliance in disease diagnostics, which is critical in addressing the continent’s public health challenges.
The test, developed by Moroccan scientists, is described as the first locally manufactured real-time PCR test for mpox. It is designed to rapidly detect the virus’s DNA in blood, saliva, or tissue samples, offering an efficient diagnostic solution in the fight against the virus. The Africa CDC praised the test for its “reliability and effectiveness,” emphasizing the importance of having a locally sourced tool to detect and control mpox.
In its statement on X, the Africa CDC noted that the approval of this test aligns with the African Union’s broader goal of strengthening the continent’s public health infrastructure and ensuring better preparedness and response to emerging health threats. By endorsing a locally produced test, the Africa CDC aims to reduce dependency on international resources and boost the capacity of African countries to handle outbreaks autonomously.
This milestone also coincides with other diagnostic developments, including the recent approval by the World Health Organization (WHO) of the Alinitym MPXV assay by Abbott Molecular Inc., the first diagnostic test for mpox that detects the virus from human lesion swabs.
Since the beginning of 2024, Africa has reported more than 50,000 cases of mpox and approximately 1,100 deaths, with Central Africa accounting for the majority of cases and fatalities. Mpox, a virus transmitted by infected animals and through human-to-human contact, causes severe symptoms, including fever, muscle pain, and large skin lesions, and can prove fatal if left untreated.
In mid-August, both the Africa CDC and WHO declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency, recognizing the urgent need for coordinated efforts to curb the spread of the virus. The endorsement of the Moroccan-developed test marks a critical advancement in Africa’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its healthcare systems and tackle public health challenges head-on.
