A global, rights-based response to the smallpox emergency in Africa

On 14 August, following the declaration of mpox as a continental public health emergency by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) recognised it as a public health emergency of international concern.

Congo smallpox, a highly contagious disease transmitted primarily through close contact with infected people, has seen a significant increase in cases this year, with more than 17,000 reported cases and more than 500 deaths, mostly in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Symptoms include a blistering rash, swollen lymph nodes, fever, and muscle aches. Experts told Human Rights Watch that the current variant of the virus appears different from previous outbreaks, with increased transmission occurring through heterosexual contact and spreading to children through close interactions within families.

The Africa CDC has stressed the need for global solidarity in the fight against this outbreak. Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa CDC, called on the international community to avoid punitive measures such as travel bans against African countries. It is essential to support countries with large stocks and no active outbreaks, particularly by providing them with vaccines. “Don’t punish Africa,” Kaseya urged, highlighting the unfair treatment the continent has suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic and stressing the importance of a fair and equitable global response.

Global health experts have warned that the African continent is “still the last to access life-saving tools.” The continent’s delayed access to HIV/AIDS treatments, Ebola response resources, COVID-19 vaccines, and now MPOX interventions, underscores persistent inequalities in access to global health. The response to the 2022 MPOX outbreak, which primarily affected men who have sex with men, has highlighted the risks of stigmatization of gay men. Human Rights Watch has previously warned that some actors exploit public health crises to marginalize vulnerable groups and has stressed the need to place human rights at the center of any response.

As the MPOX outbreak continues, it is essential that human rights principles are applied to this public health challenge. Ensuring that all people, regardless of their geographic location or socioeconomic status, have access to necessary health resources is not only a legal and moral imperative, but also a critical element in controlling the spread of this and future infectious diseases.