After facing challenges in obtaining medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic, African nations have pledged to reduce dependency on imports. In a milestone for the continent, a Moroccan firm has begun producing mpox testing kits amid ongoing outbreaks.
Moldiag, a Moroccan startup, initiated the development of mpox tests after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the virus a global emergency in August. Africa’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reported over 59,000 mpox cases and 1,164 deaths across 20 countries this year.
To address the crisis, the WHO has announced plans to provide mpox tests, vaccines, and treatments to vulnerable populations in low-income countries, although it has faced criticism for delays. The organization emphasizes the importance of testing all suspected cases.
However, in remote regions affected by the outbreak, testing remains a challenge. Many provinces in Congo lack laboratory facilities, with some regions relying solely on physical symptoms and temperature checks for diagnosis. This limits the ability to track the virus's spread effectively, health officials say.
“This is a major issue,” said Musole Robert, medical director of the Kavumu Referral Hospital in eastern Congo’s South Kivu province. “Our laboratories are inadequately equipped.”
Mpox spreads primarily through close skin-to-skin contact or contaminated materials, such as clothing or bedding. Testing involves swabbing lesions and sending samples to labs for analysis. Accurate testing is crucial as mpox symptoms can resemble those of chickenpox or measles.
While some Western nations developed rapid mpox tests in 2022, these efforts were discontinued after the virus was contained. Renewed outbreaks in Africa, including a potentially more transmissible strain, have reignited concerns.
Morocco has reported three mpox cases, with most incidents occurring in central Africa. Moldiag’s $5 tests offer a cost-effective solution to the continent’s testing shortages. The company has already received orders from Burundi, Uganda, and Congo and has also supplied kits to Senegal and Nigeria.
“It’s simpler to send tests within Africa than to wait for imports from Europe or Asia,” said Moldiag founder Abdeladim Moumen.
Moldiag, which emerged from Morocco’s Foundation for Advanced Science, Innovation and Research, previously developed genetic tests for COVID-19 and tuberculosis. The company gained Africa CDC approval in November but has yet to seek expedited approval from the WHO.
The Africa CDC has established processes to accelerate test approvals, bypassing delays typical of WHO evaluations, which can take months or years. According to Yenew Tebeje, acting director for laboratory diagnostics at the Africa CDC, ensuring quick access to medical supplies has historically been a challenge for African nations.
Moldiag’s efforts align with the African Union's post-COVID-19 goals of fostering local manufacturing to combat global disparities in medical supply distribution. The startup’s tests are priced in line with WHO standards and health advocate demands.
Moumen highlighted the importance of localized production, saying, “It makes sense to manufacture tests in regions facing outbreaks. African tests for Africa.”