WHO approves first mpox diagnostic test for emergency use, boosting global access.

WHO approves first mpox diagnostic test for emergency use, boosting global access3 October 2024 -The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed the first mpox in vitro diagnostic (IVD) under its Emergency Use Listing (EUL) procedure, an important step in improving global access to mpox testing.The approval for emergency use of the Alinity m MPXV assay, manufactured by Abbott Molecular Inc., will be pivotal in expanding diagnostic capacity in countries facing mpox outbreaks, where the need for quick and accurate testing has risen sharply.Early diagnosis of mpox enables timely treatment and care, and control of the virus.Limited testing capacity and delays in confirming mpox cases persist in Africa, contributing to the continued spread of the virus.In 2024, over 30 000 suspected cases have been reported across the region, with the highest numbers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Nigeria.In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, only 37% of suspected cases have been tested this year.