As Mpox continues to pose significant challenges across Africa, the recent high-level emergency regional meeting convened by the DRC Ministry of Health, Hygiene and Prevention, the Africa CDC, and WHO AFRO has marked a pivotal moment in our collective response. At this three-day meeting, health leaders and partners have expressed general concern about a more rapid spread of the virus than previously observed on the continent, underscoring the urgency of fostering a robust, unified strategy to combat this escalating health crisis. Bridging gaps in the response: A community-centered and research-driven approach It is now evident [...]

PANTHER's team actively participated in the 11th EDCTP Forum held in Paris, France, from November 7th to 10th, 2023. The Forum, centered around the theme of “Partnering for Global Health Research Innovation and Impact in Africa – Celebrating EDCTP: two decades and beyond”, set a remarkable milestone with a record-breaking attendance of 1118 registrations and 960 in-person delegates from 64 countries. Throughout the four-day event, delegates were immersed in a spirit of togetherness, determination, and commitment, aiming not only to address infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa but also to foster collaboration with their European counterparts. [...]

During the 76th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva on 24 May, PANTHER hosted a side event on how to provide a global response to emerging outbreaks while taking into account local needs. The event highlighted case studies of Mpox in Congo, DRC and Brazil. The full recording of the event is available below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-fWVRBPDAQ Contents of the video and direct links: 00:00 Introduction 02:05 Message from Samba Sow, President of PANTHER 06:06 Mpox in Democratic Republic of Congo - Kawaya Mankunku Van (Kinshasa University - PANTHER) (in French) 13:56 Mpox in Brazil - Beatriz [...]

In this comment published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Dimie Ogoina, Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the Niger Delta University (NDU), and Nathalie Strub-Wourgft, General Delegate of PANTHER,  reflect on a recent observational study on the real-world effectiveness of vaccination with a single subcutaneous dose of Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic (MVA-BN), a third-generation smallpox vaccine, against symptomatic mpox among gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men BMSM) at higher risk of exposure to mpox in England. To read the full text, click here.

Devex, "the world’s leading independent news organization covering global development", has published a story on PANTHER, our goals, the research gaps we aim to cover and the road that led to the creation of the platform. Read the full story here.

Launch of first platform for emergency research preparedness and response in Africa   Kigali, December 14, 2022 – PANTHER brings together leading African and global researchers and public health teams, who will work together through regional hubs to help countries and communities to better prepare, pounce and bounce back, before emerging infectious diseases become pandemics.  Ready-made, disease specific research kits and no regrets-investment will be key for these risky hot-spots. “To not prepare for outbreaks is to prepare for failure - if we want to adapt research, diagnostics and medicines to our needs, Africa needs [...]