Tag: Dr Jean Kaseya

#BREAKING: Ethiopia Declares Marburg Virus Outbreak

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Health officials who were initially skeptical about the cause of a suspected haemorrhagic fever reported in Jinka, Southern Region of Ethiopia, have now confirmed that the disease is the Marburg virus. Marburg virus disease (MVD), formerly known as Marburg haemorrhagic fever, is a severe and often fatal illness in humans. The average case fatality rate is around 50 percent, although previous outbreaks have recorded rates ranging from 24 to 88 percent. In a statement, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said the Federal…

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Africa CDC Strengthens Mpox Response through Additional Vaccine Support from Bavarian Nordic

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter Africa CDC has received an additional donation of 110,000 doses of mpox vaccines from Bavarian Nordic to support the ongoing response to the mpox outbreak across the continent. The vaccines have been allocated to Uganda, one of the countries most affected in 2025, through the Mpox Access and Allocation Mechanism (AAM), coordinated by Africa CDC in collaboration with key global health partners. This contribution significantly increases vaccine availability in Uganda and strengthens the continent’s ability to respond swiftly and equitably to ongoing outbreaks. H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC, said: “Africa…

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Scientists Converge in Record Numbers as 2025 CPHIA Opens in Durban

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa in Durban, South Africa Registration data show that approximately 800 scientists and researchers from various scientific disciplines had registered for participation by the opening day of the 2025 Conference for Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) in Durban, South Africa. The conference runs from October 22 to 25, 2025 under the theme “Moving Towards Self-Reliance to Achieve Universal Health Coverage and Health Security in Africa.” It is aimed at deliberating on numerous issues affecting healthcare. Officiating at the opening ceremony of the 4th CPHIA, South Africa’s Deputy Minister…

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Domestic Health Financing To Be Top Of The Agenda For CPHIA 2025

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The tone has already been set for the hosting of the Fourth International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2025) scheduled for Durban, South Africa from October 22 to 25, 2025. The conference will deliberate on numerous issues, chief among them domestic health financing, as Africa seeks sustainable solutions amid dwindling donor support. The meeting will be held under the theme “Moving Towards Self-Reliance to Achieve Universal Health Coverage and Health Security in Africa” and will be co-hosted by the Africa CDC and the Government of…

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Africa CDC and Unitaid partner to strengthen equitable access to health products in Africa

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and Unitaid have formed a new strategic partnership to expand the production of essential health products in Africa and improve sustainable access to medicines, diagnostics, and medical oxygen across the continent. Signed on the margins of the 78th World Health Assembly, the Memorandum of Understanding focuses on scaling up regional manufacturing as a central pillar of Africa’s health security and autonomy. Africa bears 25% of the global disease burden yet imports more than 95% of the active pharmaceutical…

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Africa CDC to Convene Emergency Meeting to Review Mpox Public Health Status

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Following a sustained decline in reported Mpox cases across Africa, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is set to convene an Emergency Consultative Group (ECG) meeting with experts to determine whether Mpox should still be classified as a public health emergency. In August 2024, Africa CDC declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS)—the first such declaration since the agency’s inception in 2017. However, recent evidence from contact tracing and screening interventions suggests a notable reduction in Mpox-related morbidity and mortality…

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Africa CDC to Convene Emergency Meeting to Review Mpox Public Health Status

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Following a sustained decline in reported Mpox cases across Africa, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is set to convene an Emergency Consultative Group (ECG) meeting with experts to determine whether Mpox should still be classified as a public health emergency. In August 2024, Africa CDC declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS)—the first such declaration since the agency’s inception in 2017. However, recent evidence from contact tracing and screening interventions suggests a notable reduction in Mpox-related morbidity and mortality…

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Africa CDC Establishes Platform To Boost Manufacturing Of Vaccines, Therapeutics and Diagnostics in Africa

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Africa Centres for Diseases Control (Africa CDC), has established a new system, the Platform for Harmonised Africa Health Products Manufacturing (PHAHP), that will see the continent coordinating the manufacturing of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, a top Africa CDC official has said. While the continent has already made inroads regarding local manufacturing of vaccines following the setting of the Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing of Vaccines (PAVM) in 2021, which sought to ensure Africa at least manufactures 60 percent of vaccines locall, the PHAHP platform seeks to…

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CPHIA 2023 Spotlights Need For Africa’s Collaboration in the Midst of Climate Change Linked Healthcare Challenges

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa in Lusaka, Zambia The third edition of the annual International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA2023, has kicked off in Lusaka, Zambia, amidst growing calls for African nations to combine efforts to address emerging health threats linked to Climate Change. The conference is running from November 27 to December 1, 2023 under the theme, “Breaking Barriers: Repositioning Africa in the Global Health Architecture.” The call to prioritise Climate Change comes at a time the continent is reeling from Climate Change induced health challenges such as rapid…

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