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Research Project: Viral Ecology of Henipaviruses in Endemic Settings and Intervention Strategies to Prevent their Spread to Domestic Animals

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Title: Establishment of a regional Mpox surveillance network in Central Africa: Shared experiences in an endemic region

Author
item VAKANIAKI, EMMANUEL - Institute National Research Biomedical
item MERRITT, SYDNEY - University Of California (UCLA)
item LINSUKE, SYLVIE - Institute National Research Biomedical
item MALEMBI, EMILE - Ministry Of Public Health
item MUYEMBE, FRANCISCA - Institute National Research Biomedical
item LUNYANGA, LYGIE - Institute National Research Biomedical
item MAYUMA, ADREA - Institute National Research Biomedical
item KWETE, PAPY - Institute National Research Biomedical
item KALONJI, THIERRY - Ministry Of Public Health
item MADINGA, JOULE - Institute National Research Biomedical
item LEBRETON, MATTHEW - Mosaic
item NAKOUNE, EMMANUEL - Institut Pasteur De Bangui (IPB)
item KALTHAN, ERNEST - Ministry Of Public Health
item SHANG, SEVIDZEM - Centre For Research And Military Health (CRESAR)
item NWOBEGAHAY, JULIUS - Centre For Research And Military Health (CRESAR)
item EHIAKHAMEN, ODIANOSEN - Nigeria Centre For Disease Control And Prevention
item DIBONGUE, ELSA - 32892
item KAKOU, JEAN-MEDARD - Ministry Of Public Health
item ERIMA, BERNARD - Makerere University
item BYARUGABA, DENIS - Makerere University
item KINZIE, PAIGE - Purdue University
item MEBWA, FRANCK - Tshopo Provincial Health Division
item BAELONGANDI, FRANCIS - Tshopo Provincial Health Division
item KAYOLO, AIME - Ministry Of Public Health
item NABUGOBE, PEPIN - Ministry Of Public Health
item MWAMBIA, DIEUDONNE - Ministry Of Public Health
item MALEKANI, JEAN - University Of Kinshasa
item NGUETE, BEATRICE - University Of Kinshasa
item KABAMBA, JOELLE - Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) - United States
item KABA, DIDINE - University Of Kinshasa
item Hensley, Lisa
item KINDRACHUK, JASON - University Of Manitoba
item LIESENBORGHS, LAURENS - Institute Of Tropical Medicine
item SHONGO, ROBERT - Ministry Of Public Health
item MUYEMBE-TAMFUM, JEAN-JACQUES - Institute National Research Biomedical
item HOFF, NICOLE - University Of California, Davis
item RIMOIN, ANNE - University Of California, Davis
item MBALA-KINGEBENI, PLACIDE - Institute National Research Biomedical

Submitted to: Acarology International Congress Proceedings
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/2/2025
Publication Date: 3/5/2025
Citation: Vakaniaki, E.H., Merritt, S., Linsuke, S., Malembi, E., Muyembe, F., Lunyanga, L., Mayuma, A., Kwete, P., Kalonji, T., Madinga, J., Lebreton, M., Nakoune, E., Kalthan, E., Shang, S., Nwobegahay, J., Ehiakhamen, O., Dibongue, E., Kakou, J., Erima, B., Byarugaba, D., Kinzie, P., Mebwa, F., Baelongandi, F., Kayolo, A., Nabugobe, P., Mwambia, D., Malekani, J., Nguete, B., Kabamba, J., Kaba, D., Hensley, L.E., Kindrachuk, J., Liesenborghs, L., Shongo, R.L., Muyembe-Tamfum, J., Hoff, N.A., Rimoin, A.W., Mbala-Kingebeni, P. 2025. Establishment of a regional mpox surveillance network in Central Africa: Shared experiences in an endemic region. Acarology International Congress Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41256-025-00408-y.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41256-025-00408-y

Interpretive Summary: Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a re-emerging infectious disease with potentially major consequences. While the 2022 outbreak was the first time mpox had been so widely documented on a global scale, mpox has existed in the Central African region since it's discovery in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As part of a larger effort to improve disease monitoring and tracking, the Mpox Threat Reduction Network (MPX-TRN) was established by partner countries in the area. Since its inception, the MPX-TRN has contributed to improved regional communication, detection of cross-border mpox cases, and surveillance capacity in areas where mpox cases are still regularly detected.

Technical Abstract: To address the underreporting of mpox cases in endemic regions, a regional surveillance network, known as the Mpox Threat Reduction Network (MPX-TRN), was established between five neighboring countries in Central and West Africa. Launched in 2022, this collaborative initiative builds upon the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) extensive experience with mpox surveillance and case management. By fostering regular international communication and enhancing cross-border case detection capacity, the MPX-TRN has significantly strengthened regional mpox surveillance. This consortium facilitates the sharing of knowledge and promotes transparent discussions, improving the detection and diagnosis of mpox and creating opportunities for coordinated response efforts to prevent future outbreaks in Africa and worldwide.