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Mar 05, 2025;10 (1): 14.

Establishment of a regional Mpox surveillance network in Central Africa: shared experiences in an endemic region.

Emmanuel Hasivirwe Vakaniaki, Sydney Merritt, Sylvie Linsuke, Emile Malembi, Francisca Muyembe, Lygie Lunyanga, Andrea Mayuma, Papy Kwete, Thierry Kalonji, Joule Madinga, Matthew LeBreton, Emmanuel Nakoune, Ernest Kalthan, Sevidzem Shang, Julius Nwobegahay, Odianosen Ehiakhamen, Elsa Dibongue, Jean-Médard Kankou, Bernard Erima, Denis K Byarugaba, Paige Rudin Kinzie, Franck Mebwa, Francis Baelongandi, Aimé Kayolo, Pépin Nabugobe, Dieudonné Mwamba, Jean Malekani, Beatrice Nguete, Didine Kaba, Lisa E Hensley, Jason Kindrachuk, Laurens Liesenborghs, Robert Shongo, Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum, Nicole A Hoff, Anne W Rimoin, Placide Mbala-Kingebeni
Author Information
  1. Emmanuel Hasivirwe Vakaniaki: Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  2. Sydney Merritt: Department of Epidemiology, Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Gordon-Levin Endowed Chair in Infectious Diseases and Public Health, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Dr, CHS 41-275, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
  3. Sylvie Linsuke: Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  4. Emile Malembi: National Program for Monkeypox and Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers, Ministry of Health, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  5. Francisca Muyembe: Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  6. Lygie Lunyanga: Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  7. Andrea Mayuma: Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  8. Papy Kwete: Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  9. Thierry Kalonji: National Program for Monkeypox and Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers, Ministry of Health, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  10. Joule Madinga: Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  11. Matthew LeBreton: Mosaic, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
  12. Emmanuel Nakoune: Pasteur Institute of Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic.
  13. Ernest Kalthan: Ministry of Health and Populations, Bangui, Central African Republic.
  14. Sevidzem Shang: Military Health Research Center (CRESAR), Yaoundé, Cameroon.
  15. Julius Nwobegahay: Military Health Research Center (CRESAR), Yaoundé, Cameroon.
  16. Odianosen Ehiakhamen: Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, Nigeria.
  17. Elsa Dibongue: Cameroon National Program for the Prevention and Control of Emerging and Re-Emerging Zoonoses, Ministry of Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
  18. Jean-Médard Kankou: Epidemiology and Disease Control Department, Ministry of Public Health, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.
  19. Bernard Erima: Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
  20. Denis K Byarugaba: Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
  21. Paige Rudin Kinzie: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
  22. Franck Mebwa: Division Provinciale de La Santé de La Tshopo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  23. Francis Baelongandi: Division Provinciale de La Santé de La Tshopo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  24. Aimé Kayolo: Epidemiological Surveillance Department, Kinshasa, Ministry of Health, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  25. Pépin Nabugobe: National Institute of Public Health, Kinshasa, Ministry of Health, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  26. Dieudonné Mwamba: National Institute of Public Health, Kinshasa, Ministry of Health, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  27. Jean Malekani: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  28. Beatrice Nguete: Kinshasa School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  29. Didine Kaba: Kinshasa School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  30. Lisa E Hensley: Zoonotic and Emerging Disease Research Unit, National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Manhattan, KS, USA.
  31. Jason Kindrachuk: Department of Medical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
  32. Laurens Liesenborghs: Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
  33. Robert Shongo: National Program for Monkeypox and Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers, Ministry of Health, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  34. Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum: Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  35. Nicole A Hoff: Department of Epidemiology, Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Gordon-Levin Endowed Chair in Infectious Diseases and Public Health, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Dr, CHS 41-275, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
  36. Anne W Rimoin: Department of Epidemiology, Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Gordon-Levin Endowed Chair in Infectious Diseases and Public Health, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Dr, CHS 41-275, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA. arimoin@ucla.edu. ORCID
  37. Placide Mbala-Kingebeni: Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. mbalaplacide@gmail.com. ORCID
PMID: 40045429 DOI: 10.1186/s41256-025-00408-y

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 in 2022. One direct outcome of the MPX-TRN has been the strengthening of regional mpox surveillance. This consortium has facilited open communication channels, detection of cross-border mpox cases, and improvements of the detection and diagnosis of mpox in Central Africa and worldwide. Importantly, the MPX-TRN provides a scalable model for addressing underreporting of diseases, such as mpox.

Keywords

Monkeypox Mpox Regional surveillance network Shared experience The Democratic Republic of Congo

References

  1. Emerg Infect Dis. 2007 Jun;13(6):934-7 [PMID: 17553242]
  2. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2023 Jan 20;72(3):68-72 [PMID: 36656790]
  3. Emerg Infect Dis. 2024 Oct;30(10):2128-2134 [PMID: 39213261]
  4. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018 Mar 16;67(10):306-310 [PMID: 29543790]
  5. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2024 Jan 18;18(1):e0011871 [PMID: 38236842]

Grants

  1. HDTRA1-21-1-0040/Defense Threat Reduction Agency

MeSH Term

Africa, Central
Humans
Endemic Diseases
Mpox, Monkeypox
Population Surveillance
Africa, Western
Journal Article Letter
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Word Cloud

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