As global focus recedes following a notable decline in mpox cases, the Global Virus Network (GVN) has sounded a cautionary alarm against complacency, advocating for urgent intensification of outbreak preparedness strategies worldwide. Through the concerted efforts of its Mpox Action Committee alongside multiple Centers of Excellence, GVN has embarked on one of the pioneering coordinated multi-national endeavors to systematically evaluate rapid point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tools specific to mpox. This initiative represents a crucial stride in forestalling viral resurgence and fortifying global readiness against emergent epidemics, by rigorously assessing the sensitivity, specificity, and operational feasibility of these rapid tests compared to established polymerase chain reaction (PCR) gold standards.
Despite encouraging epidemiological trends suggesting a downturn in new cases, epidemiologists express deep concern regarding persistent surveillance and diagnostic lapses that undermine sustained outbreak containment. In certain endemic regions such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and adjacent countries, the persistent absence of validated, accessible rapid diagnostic assays continues to pose grave impediments to swift case identification and response mobilization, thereby heightening vulnerability to mpox flare-ups. This epidemiological blind spot underscores the imperative for robust point-of-care diagnostics that can reliably function in resource-limited environments plagued by infrastructural and logistical challenges.
The ongoing global outbreak of clade IIb mpox, characterized by the emergence of more transmissible subclades, has manifested in over 100,000 confirmed infections spanning 122 countries, among which 115 reported mpox cases for the first time, marking an unprecedented geographic spread. This expansive dissemination necessitates the deployment of standardized, rapid diagnostic approaches capable of delivering timely results to inform clinical and public health interventions. Recognizing this demand, GVN’s multinational research collaboration diligently compares commercially available rapid diagnostic kits against sensitive PCR assays within diverse clinical and field settings, integrating real-world operational assessments to ensure practical utility beyond laboratory confines.
Robert C. Gallo, MD, co-founder and international scientific director of the GVN, emphasized the pitfalls of reduced vigilance: “Declining incidence figures should not foster a misleading sense of safety. Historically, diminished surveillance efforts invariably precede viral resurgence.” Dr. Gallo highlights that this unprecedented collaborative study, uniting scientific expertise across continents via a harmonized methodology, sets a critical precedent for mounting resilient outbreak readiness frameworks on a global scale. His affiliation as director of the Institute of Translational Virology and Innovation at the University of South Florida further anchors the initiative in cutting-edge virological research.
The cross-continental endeavor encompasses scientific teams from leading institutions including Emory University in the United States, the University of St Andrews in the United Kingdom, as well as the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria and the University of Health Sciences Otukpo in Nigeria. These entities systematically evaluate rapid diagnostic kits, scrutinizing their analytical performance with live clinical specimens, and examining workflow integration and feasibility in environments marked by infrastructural constraints such as limited electricity, cold chain challenges, and shortage of trained personnel. This pragmatic approach ensures that findings carry translatable value for front-line healthcare workers confronting mpox in low-resource settings.
Sten Vermund, MD, PhD, GVN chief medical officer and Dean of the University of South Florida College of Public Health, elucidates the critical void posed by insufficient rapid diagnostic validation: “Without reliable, point-of-care tests, outbreak response operates in a perilous data vacuum. Our collaborative research between Nigerian and Scottish teams is integral to defining the diagnostic armamentarium frontline clinicians can trust during mpox outbreaks, or indeed any future viral epidemics that threaten global health.” His remarks emphasize the broader implications of this work in enhancing pandemic preparedness infrastructure.
Particularly distinctive is the study’s multi-site design, incorporating African regions with endemic mpox circulation. Principal researchers such as Wilber Sabiiti, PhD, at the University of St Andrews, lead field validations of rapid antigen detection assays in the metropolitan environs of Kampala, Uganda and the South Kivu province of the DRC. By working in partnership with Makerere University and the Catholic University of Bukavu, these teams rigorously test diagnostic accuracy amidst the complexities of local healthcare delivery systems, where practical performance parameters such as test turnaround time, ease of use, and robustness against environmental variables are critically assessed.
In Nigeria, Sophia Osawe, MPH, PhD, spearheads laboratory-based comparative investigations leveraging a comprehensive biorepository of mpox clinical samples housed at the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria. Operating within ISO-accredited facilities, Dr. Osawe’s team applies stringent quality control and analytical standards to benchmark rapid test performance, ensuring that only assays demonstrating consistent reliability under controlled conditions are recommended for widespread deployment. She underscores the high stakes inherent in rapid diagnostics: “Delayed detection not only hampers patient care but also allows ongoing viral transmission chains to persist unchecked.”
Emory University’s Boghuma Titanji, MD, MSc, DTM&H, PhD, integrates rigorous virological methodology by evaluating candidate rapid diagnostic assays within Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) containment, given the pathogen’s biosafety requirements. Her research evaluates both analytical sensitivity and operational feasibility, acknowledging that laboratory efficacy must translate into real-world applicability. Dr. Titanji stresses, “A diagnostic tool must exhibit a dual capability: definitive accuracy in detection paired with operational simplicity. A test optimized solely for controlled lab environments fails the broader public health imperatives posed by mpox.”
In a complementary Nigerian field study, Joseph Anejo Okopi, MBA, MSc, PhD, at the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo, undertakes comprehensive evaluations of rapid test performance across multiple biological specimen matrices. His work investigates how community health workers, often the primary healthcare interface in remote locales, can effectively administer these tests and interpret results under routine conditions. “Our objective is to ensure that rapid diagnostic tools are not only accurate but accessible and user-friendly, thereby enabling timely outbreak identification in hard-to-reach populations,” Dr. Okopi affirms.
Upon completion of data collection spanning laboratory and field contexts, the GVN will compile its findings into a comprehensive global comparative analysis and policy brief. These documents aim to provide governments, funding bodies, and public health institutions with an evidence-based framework to select and deploy the most effective mpox rapid diagnostic tools. Such guidance promises to strengthen global surveillance capabilities, optimize case management, and reduce viral transmission potential.
Dr. Vermund characterizes this initiative as “science in action,” driven by collaborative efforts between African and international experts united by a commitment to outpace viral threats. He encapsulates the essence of the project’s impact succinctly: “With enhanced diagnostic technologies and coordinated deployment strategies, we gain a critical advantage in controlling epidemics. Effective point-of-care testing is a linchpin in our global health defense arsenal.”
As the scientific community advances diagnostic tools to address dramatic shifts in mpox epidemiology, GVN demonstrates the power of international collaboration, scientific rigor, and operational pragmatism to fortify pandemic preparedness frameworks. The deployment of validated, widely accessible rapid tests not only bolsters current mpox containment efforts but also establishes scalable models for future viral threats, embodying an essential intersection of innovation, translational science, and public health resilience.
Subject of Research: Mpox rapid point-of-care diagnostics validation and outbreak preparedness.
Article Title: (Not specified in the provided content)
News Publication Date: September 25, 2025
Web References:
Global Virus Network: www.gvn.org
CDC Mpox situation summary: www.cdc.gov/mpox/situation-summary/index.html
Keywords: Diseases and disorders, Clinical medicine, Mpox diagnostics, Viral outbreak preparedness, Point-of-care testing, Global health response, Emerging infectious diseases
Tags: case identification and responseendemic regions mpoxepidemiological surveillance challengesGlobal Virus NetworkMpox diagnostic assessmentmulti-country collaborationoutbreak preparedness strategiesrapid point-of-care diagnosticsresource-limited healthcare environmentsstrengthening global health initiativesvalidated diagnostic toolsviral resurgence prevention
