The Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has urged countries around the world to refrain from imposing travel bans on citizens of African countries that have reported outbreaks of Mpox and the virus disease from Marburg.
In a statement released Tuesday evening, the Africa CDC said travel bans or restrictions on movement, as a precaution against outbreaks, would negatively impact public health responses in affected African countries.
“Such measures are inconsistent with international health guidelines and risk undermining public health responses, worsening economic challenges and reigniting inequalities and mistrust that have surfaced during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly between the North and the South,” the center said.
The African Union’s specialist health agency has stressed that travel restrictions are not recommended unless there is compelling evidence to justify them, as such measures have historically proven counterproductive, delaying response efforts, fostering public anxiety and disrupting global mobility.
Instead, the World Health Organization and Africa CDC recommend focusing on enhanced surveillance, early detection, case management, targeted vaccination and community engagement as the most effective strategies for managing outbreaks .
The Africa CDC has reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with all affected countries and international partners to combat the current Mpox and Marburg outbreaks through coordinated and science-based solutions that prioritize health security and economic stability.
Last week, the Africa CDC revealed that the total number of Mpox cases in Africa rose to 34,297, including 6,806 confirmed cases and 866 deaths since the start of this year.
Rwanda declared an outbreak of Marburg virus disease on September 27.
As of October 4, the country had recorded 36 confirmed cases and 11 deaths, according to Rwandan Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana.
MG/as/fss/Sf/te/APA
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