Informal notes format - Sorry in advance for typos. I am not a professional journalist. 
Others were off camera occasionally answering questions. I do not have their names but at least one was a doctor.
Dr. Kaseya presenting:
Showed a slide depicting
22,863 total mpox cases as of August 26, 2024 (3,641 confirmed and 19,222 suspected) and 622 deaths. (These are all clades s.s.)
Surveillance in Africa is weak. Many areas have under notification of cases. Adding 72 epidemiologists to support community focus and analyzing data.
DRC is epicenter. Recently met with many partners, head of state, head of finance. DRC is addressing fight against mpox.
Almost 200 partners assisting in efforts from all over the world. Supporting Africa. Ready to send appropriate supports. Will provide what response plan will request. Got partners to agree no travel ban to be applied to Africa.
WHO working on vaccine donations to Africa. Do not want weak deployment of vaccine to Africa.
Discussing response plan....African countries participating on developing overall plan. All countries have sent plan to Africa CDC. Also, all partners giving input including NGOs. Africa will consider all input. Want a meeting 2nd week of Sept. for African heads of state to agree to Africa continent response plan.
Q and A
Reuters - How many vaccines are coming? Status of test kits?
ans. 215k + France sending 100k + US sending 50k + 15k coming from the Gulf + expect some from Germany + other partners considering....
Putting all African countries in same basket for distribution and will follow countries' plan....
Right now - Negative test does not mean there is not mpox. Look at all factors like location of person, etc.
1. Need surveillance
2. Need to test these cases. Need to confirm.
For Clade 1b there is no medicine. Only tool have today is vaccine.
Need to move from 18% testing to 80% testing
Need antigen for rapid test.
Need to support field testing.
Two more media that I do not recognize name: What manufacturer has been chosen?
ans. Africa is not ready for another pandemic. Extreme shortages in COVID pandemic...syringes, masks, etc. Africa was abandoned.
(Horrible! s.s.) Today in similar situation. Talking to Bavarian Nordic...Sent info to all African vaccine producers. Nine responded. Out of those nine, only one has capacity. Mpox is an endemic disease. Africa needs a vaccine to stop outbreaks. Can be sexually transmitted. Need to vaccinate some at risk people - sex workers, for instance. Need for children in Eastern DRC, there is malnutrition. Vaccines needed for long term.
Another media: What about Burundi and Uganda?
Another person is answering. Burundi - 1b clade, significant community transmission...in a few weeks about 750 cases....43% cases in children under 5.
Uganda has 4 cases.
Another media: If someone has had mpox, do they have any immunity and how long does it last?
ans. by another person: Possibly 9 months protection but do not really know for sure...need more studies.
AP - When will 1st vaccine arrive in DRC/Congo?
ans. Back to Dr. Kaseya....next week arriving in DRC, expensive. Want to be sure doses are not lost after arrival. i.e. proper storage, transport, etc.
Zambia NBCTV - Will the increase in mpox cases change border controls?
ans. "We are clear on that." implying border closures are not wanted. Africa is doing everything possible to contain outbreak.
Now taking 2 media at a time - How are Africa CDC and WHO coodinating to be sure that not duplication of efforts? Another media in French + technical problems - asking about the vaccines...when and how many?
ans. Not well understood enough to post here. Talking about 3 million doses....(Sorry....I can read French but understanding medical terms via audio with no facial presentation - not so much. My bad. s.s.)
Dr. Kaseya - This the 1st time Africa CDC declared International Concern - need to unlock the committee of states to provide guidance and support. Coming together to manage continental management team. Now speaking of this in French.....saying much of what he said above in English.
Two other media - Asking about children. Bavarian Nordia is not approved for children. Going to use Chinese? Also..given the malnutrition issue.
ans. by another - Getting documentation organized...waiting for US to send. Asked Japan for children vaccine. Asked for 2 million doses. Stressing mpox prevention. Japan is preparing to donate (didn't say how much).
Two more media - What about rapid test? One question in French about public health and animal interface.
ans. Dr. Kaseya back...gving a lengthly answer in French about the animal/human interface situation.
ans. by another -Testing is a real challenge i.e. getting tests back to labs...field situation is hard...terrain...need rapid tests. Need validation of a rapid test by lab results.
Two more media - Economic consequences? What about airplanes?
Back to Dr. Kaseya - Want to avoid COVID consequences. Talking about transport system in a couple of areas - like ports. If one country is affected the consequences are huge and will affect public health system. Clade 1b for sure and even clade II spread not good. WHO lists mpox as disease with pandemic potential. Avoid unnessary contact. Use condoms. Even if mpox gets airborne there are some things that can be done. No evidence today that mpox is airborne.
Another media - In Kenya both cases are truck drivers....why need vaccines? What about logical situation in DRC? Getting fixed? What about Ghana? Have there been any cases in Ghana? When do other countries get the vaccine?
ans. Kenya gov. may want to prevent an outbreak. Can spread in populations rapidly. Contaiment strategy. Truckers..how many stops...eating out...etc.? Possibly many contacts.
ans. DRC is a vast country with some logistic challenges. DRC has a strong past in vaccinating mothers and children.
ans. another person - Ghana had cases under investigation. Risk is much closer to home b/c of cases in Ivory Coast. It is just a matter of time considering mobility of people. Also near Liberia that has cases. Preparedness needs to start in Ghana as soon as possible.
Health Policy Watch and another media - Japan donation? Children under ten? More clarification between clades I and II.
ans. What is making us worried....clade Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb - some coutries have 3 clades going on.....so many unknowns.... one study shows a vaccine will not help clade 1b. Working on more studies and with countries to stop this outbreak. There is a risk of mutation with all of these clades.
ans. In DRC of those who tested mpox positive 25% were children. Japan has confirmed received vaccine request and working on it.
Another media in French. Something about vaccines. (Did not understand. s.s)
Closing Remarks by Dr. Kaseya.
Talking about vaccines and committments (Much of this was explained above.s.s) Listing the types including the MRna vaccine in the approval process.
Thanking everyone. Mpox is a global public health problem. Build one health response. Build Africa ability to produce own vaccines. 1st time Africa CDC building one response plan and one budget for continent. Working with heads of states.
Deadline for vaccine delivery is 1st of September.
Thanking media to communicate this situation. Will convene again next week.
End.
