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Rabat – The Moroccan Ministry of Health and Social Protection has announced the postponement of the Fourth International Public Health Conference in Africa over the outbreak of the Monkeypox virus across the African continent.
The event was originally scheduled to take place in November 2024 in Morocco.
The decision follows an official request from Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Africa), to the Moroccan government.
Kaseya made the request during his official visit to Morocco on Friday, where he met with the Moroccan Minister of Health, Khalid Ait Taleb, the ministry said in a statement.
During the meeting, Kaseya highlighted the severe health challenges facing Africa due to the spread of the Mpox virus, which has affected several countries across the continent, including Morocco, which recently confirmed its first case of the virus in Marrakech.
Kaseya emphasized that controlling the outbreak requires substantial international cooperation and increased efforts, given the current health conditions. In light of the situation, he formally requested the postponement of the conference to prioritize the fight against this public health crisis.
The Ministry of Health expressed its understanding of the request and voiced full support for the decision to delay the event.
It reaffirmed Morocco’s commitment to continue strengthening health cooperation with other African countries and international partners. The goal remains to support efforts in tackling health crises and achieving health sovereignty across the African continent, it added.
A new date for the conference will be announced in coordination with the African Union and CDC Africa at a later time.
The ministry confirmed yesterday Morocco’s first case of mpox in the current outbreak, involving a man in Marrakech who is in stable condition. Authorities are tracing his contacts, none of whom have shown symptoms.
In 2024, Africa recorded over 20,000 mpox cases and 500 deaths across 14 countries, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reporting more than 5,000 cases. Vaccines have arrived in DRC, but logistical challenges are delaying distribution. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency on 14 August.
