Kehinde Fajobi
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has endorsed Morocco’s locally developed mpox test, marking what it called a “major milestone” in fighting the disease on the continent.
The CDC, in a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, highlighted the test’s significance as the first real-time PCR test for mpox produced in Africa.
It explained that the test can rapidly detect pathogen DNA in samples from blood, saliva, or tissue, emphasising its “reliability and efficacy.”
“This major milestone is in line with the African Union’s continental effort to strengthen the self-sufficiency of African public health systems towards enhancing the continent’s efficiency in preparedness and response to disease threats,” the CDC stated.
This endorsement follows Africa CDC and the World Health Organization’s joint declaration of mpox as a public health emergency in mid-August, as Africa faces a growing outbreak of over 50,000 cases and about 1,100 deaths this year.
Most cases and nearly all deaths have occurred in Central Africa.
The World Health Organization last month approved the first diagnostic test for mpox globally, known as the Alinity m MPXV assay, developed by Abbott Molecular Inc.
This test enables mpox detection from swabs taken from skin lesions.
Mpox, formerly called monkeypox, can spread from animals to humans or through close physical contact between humans. It causes fever, muscle aches, and skin lesions and can be deadly.