Conference Abstract | Volume 8, Abstract ELIC2025125 (Oral 092) | Published: 13 Aug 2025
Fortune Benjamin Effiong1,2, Emmanuel Ebuka Elebesunu1,3, Tolulope Joseph Ogunniyi1,4, Dimeji Abdulsobur Olawuyi1,5, Emmanuel Ekpor1,6, Monica Ahiadorme1,7, Archibong Edem Bassey1,8, Ibrahim Adebayo Hassan1,9, Emmanuella Benjamin Effiong1,10, Oluwaseun Adeolu Ogundijo1,11, Ayomide Timilehin Kayode1,12, Leonard Ighodalo Uzairue1,13
1Systematic Reviews Network (SRN), Calabar, Nigeria, 2Medical Laboratory Services, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar, Nigeria, 3Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria, 4Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, 5Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, 6School of Nursing, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana, 7Department of Basic Sciences, School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Ho, Ghana, 8Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom, 9Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, 10Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria, 11Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, 12Department of Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria, 13Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
&Corresponding author: Fortune Benjamin Effiong, Medical Laboratory Services, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar, Nigeria, Email: effiongfortuneb@gmail.com
Received: 31 May 2024, Accepted: 09 Ju 2025, Published: 13 Aug 2025
Domain: Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Keywords: Diagnostic capacity, Laboratory infrastructure, Mpox, Monkeypox, Africa
©Fortune Benjamin Effiong et al. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 2664-2824). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cite this article: Fortune Benjamin Effiong et al., Strengthening Mpox laboratory surveillance and response mechanisms in Central and West Africa: A comprehensive scoping review2. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2025;8(ConfProc5):00092. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO5-00092
Monkeypox (Mpox) is a growing public health concern in Africa, driven by its zoonotic origin and increasing human-to-human transmission. However, existing mechanisms face significant challenges that limit effective outbreak control. This scoping review maps the current landscape of Mpox surveillance in endemic African regions, evaluates the effectiveness of current strategies, and identifies key gaps needing urgent attention.
A scoping review methodology was adopted, following the guidelines recommended by Arksey and O’Malley. We conducted a comprehensive search of peer reviewed articles, grey literature, and policy reports from January 2010 to December 2022, utilizing databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Studies and reports that focused on surveillance strategies, diagnostic technologies, outbreak response, and Mpox-related challenges in endemic African countries were included. In total, 25 relevant studies from six African nations, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, and Cameroon, were analyzed.
Mpox surveillance systems in the region suffer from major limitations such as delayed outbreak reporting, limited laboratory capacity, and weak data management systems. While some countries employed active case finding and mobile health tools, most relied on passive surveillance, resulting in delayed outbreak detection. Diagnostic capacity—especially access to PCR testing—was particularly poor in rural areas. Additional barriers included logistical constraints, poor inter-agency data sharing, and limited integration of community-based surveillance.
Strengthening Mpox surveillance in endemic regions requires expanded diagnostic infrastructure, integration of digital surveillance tools, and stronger community involvement. Regional and international collaborations are critical for enhancing data sharing and coordinated responses. Addressing these gaps will improve preparedness and help prevent future public health emergencies.
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