WHO approves first test for diagnosing monkeypox

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced this Friday the approval the first rapid diagnostic test for MPox, which will help improve prevention, especially in the most affected countries, such as Africa. More than 800 people have died on the continent since the start of the year due to the viral disease, which causes fever, muscle pain and skin lesions and has been officially identified in 16 countries, according to the African Union.

The WHO emphasized that “emergency use authorization” the number of these tests will be important to improve diagnostic capacity in countries facing smallpox outbreaks. Early diagnosis allows timely treatment and better control of the virus, the UN agency emphasized in a statement.

The validated test, called Alinity m MPXV, was developed by Abbott Molecular Laboratories. It’s about Real-time PCR test which detects disease from patient samples. This progress is significant on a continent where diagnostic capacity remains limited, contributing to the further spread of the virus.

In Africa in 2024 more than 30,000 cases of suspected mpoxAccording to WHO, the largest outbreaks were observed in countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Burundi and Nigeria. In the DRC, the epicenter of the epidemic, only 37% of suspected cases have been tested this year, highlighting the urgent need for more accessible diagnostic tools.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease transmitted from animals to humansand between people as a result of prolonged physical contact. The resurgence of MPox in Africa, as well as the emergence of a new variant, prompted the WHO to activate its highest global alert level in August.

In response to the crisis, Rwanda launched Africa’s first smallpox vaccination campaign in September. In the DRC, it was scheduled to begin in October but was delayed due to logistical problems in delivering doses. Additionally, the United States announced it would donate one million vaccine doses to affected African countries, and Spain has pledged to send 500,000 doses at the end of August to help fight the disease.