Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42434479›Full record

ReviewThe Lancet regional health. Africa2026

Decentralizing testing capacity of mpox in Africa: a narrative review.

Yao Selom Atrah, Nicksy Gumede, Joseph Nyombe, Nebiyu Dereje, Wazih N Cho, Kyeng Mercy, Michel Muteba, Jeanine Nkakulu Luzolo, Olga Ntumba-Tshitenge, Passy Kimema and 11 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in The Lancet regional health. Africa, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. A comprehensive overview of monkeypox virus disease.Tropical medicine and health · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

21 authors.

Yao Selom AtrahAfrica Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Nicksy GumedeMpox Continental Incident Management Support Team (IMST), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Joseph NyombeAfrica Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Nebiyu DerejeAfrica Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Wazih N ChoAfrica Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Kyeng MercyAfrica Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Michel MutebaMpox Continental Incident Management Support Team (IMST), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Jeanine Nkakulu LuzoloAfrica Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Olga Ntumba-TshitengeMpox Continental Incident Management Support Team (IMST), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Passy KimemaSoins de Santé Primaires en Milieu Rural (SANRU), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Collins Kipngetich TanuiAfrica Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Noah Takah FongwenAfrica Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Armel MbounaAfrica Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Rose Mary NakameAfrica Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Biruh Tesfaye KebedeAfrica Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Yap BoumAfrica Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Ngashi NgongoAfrica Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Mory KeitaMpox Continental Incident Management Support Team (IMST), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Sofonias Kifle TessemaAfrica Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Yenew Kebede TebejeAfrica Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Jean KaseyaAfrica Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Decentralized diagnostics are essential for the timely detection and control of mpox outbreaks. Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) transitioned from centralized testing to decentralized models using GeneXpert platforms, mobile labs, and real-time feedback systems. Burundi expanded from one to 56 diagnostic sites, reducing site-level turnaround times to 2-4 h and achieving nearly 100% testing coverage. The DRC scaled up from 2 to 28 labs, deploying multiplex platforms and stabilizing testing rates. Genomic surveillance also advanced, with over 3000 mpox virus (MPXV) genomes sequenced across 23 countries, revealing new clades and informing public health responses. Africa reached the 8% sequencing threshold, enabling real-time viral tracking. The mpox epidemic accelerated reforms, including continental guidelines for laboratory decentralization and the launch of a new initiative to expand testing, training, and local manufacturing. This article describes the mpox laboratory decentralization efforts, achievements, lessons, and best practices across Africa.

Indexed as

AfricaDecentralizationLaboratoryMpoxOutbreakPrimary careTesting

Identifiers

PMID42434479
PMCPMC13352945

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.