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The hardest-hit nations include Burundi, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
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Morocco has become the first African country to produce mpox test kits, addressing the continent’s dependency on imported medical supplies. Moldiag, a Moroccan biotech startup, began manufacturing the tests after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global emergency in August 2024.
Outbreak impact on Africa
Mpox continues to challenge healthcare systems across Africa, with the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reporting over 59,000 cases and 1,164 deaths in 20 countries this year. The hardest-hit nations include Burundi, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In South Kivu Province, eastern Congo, doctors are overwhelmed by the outbreak, often diagnosing patients based on symptoms rather than laboratory tests due to a severe shortage of diagnostic tools. Most of Congo’s 26 provinces lack laboratories capable of processing mpox tests, leaving many cases unconfirmed and hindering containment efforts.
Moldiag’s contribution
Moldiag’s founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Abdeladim Moumem, highlighted the affordability and accessibility of the Moroccan-manufactured kits, priced at under $5 per test.
“For mpox, WHO recommends a price of around $5, and we offer ours for less. Our goal is to provide cost-efficient solutions for Africa,” Moumem said.
The company received approval from Africa CDC in November to distribute its tests across the continent. While it has not yet sought WHO approval, Moldiag has begun supplying east African nations, including DRC, Burundi, and Uganda, and anticipates demand from countries like Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria.
Currently, Moldiag has shipped 50,000 test kits and expects demand to grow as more countries address their diagnostic needs.
Challenges and innovations
The lack of widespread mpox testing in Africa has hindered the continent’s ability to track the virus and implement containment measures effectively. Mpox symptoms, such as skin lesions, resemble those of other illnesses like chickenpox and measles, making testing crucial for accurate diagnosis and contact tracing. Unlike COVID-19 testing, mpox diagnostics rely on swabbing visible rashes, with samples sent to laboratories for genetic analysis. Africa CDC has approved tests requiring laboratory processing from the United States, China, Singapore, and the EU, but Moldiag’s locally produced kits offer a more regionally tailored solution.
Moldiag’s legacy in diagnostic solutions
Founded under Morocco’s Foundation for Advanced Science, Innovation, and Research (MASCIR), Moldiag has years of experience producing genetic tests for diseases like COVID-19 and tuberculosis. The company supplied five million COVID-19 tests to Morocco’s Ministry of Health and several African countries, including Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Tunisia.
Future outlook
Moumem believes local production of mpox tests can revolutionize Africa’s pandemic response by reducing reliance on imports and expediting diagnostics.
“This is just the start. With increased demand, we aim to scale up and ensure Africa has the tools to combat this and future health crises,” he said.
As Africa battles ongoing mpox outbreaks, Moldiag’s initiative underscores the importance of regional solutions to global health challenges.
Agencies
