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Health Advocates Demand Lower Prices for Mpox Tests from Cepheid

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Global health advocates are urging diagnostics firm Cepheid to slash the price of its GeneXpert mpox test from $20 to $5 per test. This reduction, they argue, is critical to combat low testing rates in poorer countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which is among the hardest hit by the mpox outbreak.

Current Challenges

  • High Test Costs: Cepheid’s GeneXpert test is one of three World Health Organization (WHO)-approved diagnostics for emergency mpox testing. However, its current pricing is unaffordable for low-income nations, particularly in Africa.
  • Rising Cases in Africa: The WHO reported an overall increase in mpox cases across Africa, with some stabilization in Congo. Yet, inadequate testing infrastructure hampers confirmation of cases, limiting effective responses.

Advocacy Efforts

  • A coalition of health groups, including Public Citizen and Médecins Sans Frontières, sent a letter to Cepheid and its parent company, Danaher. They are pressing for a price reduction to $5 and prioritization of supplies to African nations.
  • Advocates argue that Cepheid’s existing network of diagnostic machines in Africa, widely used for tuberculosis testing, could be leveraged for mpox diagnostics if costs are reduced.

Cepheid’s Response

  • Cepheid stated it has ramped up production of its mpox test to meet urgent demands, particularly following requests from the WHO.
  • The company claims to offer “significant” discounts through an access program for orders placed via WHO and related organizations, but has not disclosed specific pricing details.

Historical Precedent and Cost Analysis

  • In 2022, Danaher reduced prices for its tuberculosis tests to $7.97 after similar activist campaigns. Advocates argue that mpox tests could be produced for less than $5, based on research and cost analyses.
  • Public Citizen’s Peter Maybarduk emphasized that the recent WHO approval of Cepheid’s mpox test offers an opportunity to expand testing globally, stating, “Lower prices would help health agencies meet the moment.”

Conclusion

Lowering the price of mpox diagnostic tests is crucial to managing outbreaks in vulnerable regions. Cepheid’s actions in response to the advocacy push will determine the extent to which testing can be scaled up in poorer countries, especially as the virus continues to pose significant health challenges in Africa.

 

Gaza’s First Polio Case in 25 Years: A Heartbreaking Story Amid War and Vaccination Struggles

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In the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, one-year-old Abdul Rahman lies in a battered car seat, too young to understand the drones circling above or the gravity of the incurable disease now paralyzing his small body. His mother, Niveen Abu al-Jidyan, watches over him in a makeshift tent at Al-Mawasi refugee camp, deeply distressed by her son’s condition. “He can’t stand, sit, or move like before. He is very weak,” she says, helpless as Abdul Rahman battles polio, the first case Gaza has seen in 25 years.

Polio, a once-feared disease that mostly affects children under five, can cause irreversible paralysis and even death, but it is easily preventable with a vaccine. However, amid the ongoing war, Abdul Rahman never received the vaccinations that could have protected him. Once boasting near-universal immunization coverage, Gaza’s rates have plummeted to just over 80%, leaving children like Abdul Rahman vulnerable to preventable diseases.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF are working together to roll out a mass vaccination campaign aimed at inoculating 640,000 children under the age of 10 in Gaza, a vital step to prevent the outbreak from spreading. According to WHO, around 95% of the population needs to be vaccinated to halt the virus in its tracks. If this level of coverage isn’t achieved, WHO warns that thousands of children could soon fall victim to the disease.

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Despite the urgency, the logistics of conducting such a large-scale vaccination drive in a war zone present monumental challenges. Ongoing Israeli bombardments have displaced up to 90% of Gaza’s population, destroyed infrastructure, and severely hampered access to food, water, and medical care. Most of Gaza’s health facilities have been destroyed, leaving only five of the original 22 health centers operational. As Sam Rose, director of planning at UNRWA, explains, “The administration of the vaccine is the easy part. The difficult part is everything else.” Repeated evacuations and the destruction of essential infrastructure continue to hinder aid efforts.

COGAT, the Israeli government agency responsible for coordinating movement into and out of Gaza, has allowed over 25,000 vials of polio vaccine into the strip, along with necessary cooling equipment to maintain the vaccine’s effectiveness. If conditions allow, the vaccination drive is set to begin on August 31. However, for Abdul Rahman, this comes too late.

With Gaza’s healthcare system devastated by war, the Abu al-Jidyan family faces an uncertain future. Polio may have no cure, but there are treatments that can help alleviate its symptoms. Unfortunately, even these limited treatments are likely out of reach for Abdul Rahman due to the lack of medical supplies and facilities in the strip. Desperate, Niveen Abu al-Jidyan pleads for help: “Take him abroad for treatment or find a solution so my son can start walking and start moving again.”

As Gaza struggles to combat both the war and a resurgence of polio, Abdul Rahman’s story is a tragic reminder of the toll that conflict takes on the most vulnerable. The urgency of the vaccination campaign is now more critical than ever, with the future health of thousands of children hanging in the balance.

Philippines Reports First Mpox Case of the Year, Awaiting Strain Identification

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The Philippines has identified its first mpox case of the year, marking the first occurrence since December 2023. The patient, a 33-year-old Filipino male with no recent travel history outside the country, is currently under observation as health officials await sequencing results to determine the specific strain of the virus. The Department of Health (DOH) has stated that symptoms began over a week ago, starting with a fever, followed by the appearance of a distinct rash across various parts of the body, including the face, back, groin, and soles.

This case adds to the 10 laboratory-confirmed cases of mpox reported by the Philippines since July 2022. Mpox, caused by the monkeypox virus, typically presents with flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions, and while generally mild, it can pose serious risks, particularly for children, pregnant women, and individuals with compromised immune systems, such as those living with HIV.

Globally, mpox has been a growing concern, with the World Health Organization (WHO) recently declaring it a global public health emergency. The alarm was raised following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that quickly spread to neighboring countries. A new variant of the virus, which appears to spread more easily through close contact, has heightened these concerns. Recent reports have confirmed cases of this variant in Sweden, linked to the African outbreak, and in Pakistan, where at least one case was detected in a patient returning from a Gulf country.

As health authorities in the Philippines and around the world continue to monitor the situation, there is an urgent need for timely identification of the virus strain and effective containment measures. This ongoing vigilance is critical as the global community grapples with the challenges posed by emerging infectious diseases. The latest case in the Philippines underscores the importance of continued public health surveillance and preparedness in addressing potential outbreaks, ensuring that responses are swift and informed by the most up-to-date scientific knowledge.