African journalists warned against misinformation

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Addis Ababa, Ethiopia –  Misinformation undermines effective response to disease outbreaks - epidemics, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said.

Africa CDC acting deputy director general says often one disease is mistaken for another, causing wrong and delayed intervention, as it escalates.

While addressing 25 African health and science journalists at the Africa CDC headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on May 8, 2025, Dr Raji Tajudeen cited mpox, which has been mistaken for measles and chicken pox.

The acting deputy director general Africa CDC Dr Raji Tajudeen while addressing journalists. (Credit: Agnes Kyotalengerire)

“The ongoing mpox outbreak is easily confused with diseases such as measles and chickenpox. Clarity in communication is critical—and your role is indispensable,” Tajudeen said.

The journalists were selected from the 22 of 55 member states of Africa CDC.

The three-day (May 6-8, 2025) media workshop aims to equip journalists with knowledge and skills in public health reporting, to shape public opinion and elevate the health narrative across our continent.

Deputy incident manager, Incident Management Support Team (IMST) on Mpox at Africa CDC, Prof. Yap Boum II said the training is timely, and investing in strong journalists helps spread the right information amidst the era of misinformation.

“We are surrounded by fake news, so it is critical to have good health and science journalists to put out the right and appropriate information,” Yap said.

The deputy incident manager, Incident Management Support Team on Mpox at Africa CDC, Prof Yap Boum II, while addressing journalists. (Credit: Agnes Kyotalengerire)

The director of communication and public information (CPI) at Africa CDC, Margaret Edwin Muigi, implored the journalists to use their mandate as custodians of information to amplify voices on issues of public health emergencies.  

Additionally, journalists discussed a range of topics from the power of genomic sequencing in outbreak response to the pillars of the New Public Health Order and the strategic direction laid out in the Africa CDC’s five-year plan.

“These frameworks are not just institutional roadmaps—they are instruments for partnership, action, and transformation. They show how, together, we can build stronger health systems and deliver better health outcomes for Africa’s 1.4 billion people,” said Dr. Tajudeen.

Background

On August 14, 2024, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern. This was the second time in two years that reclassified mpox to this highest level of response.

Health and science journalists attending the on going continental media workshop at Africa CDC headquarters in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. (Credit: Agnes Kyotalengerire)

The global alert was preceded by a declaration by the African CDC on August 13, 2024, recognising mpox as a public health emergency of continental security, the first time Africa CDC used its statutory mandate under Article 3, Paragraph E.

In the last few months, Africa CDC has also responded to Marburg outbreaks in Rwanda and Tanzania and Ebola in Uganda all successfully contained.

However, Tajudeen noted that the reality is sobering as Africa remains the epicentre of global outbreaks, with cases rising from 152 in 2022 to 213 in 2024 which translates to a 40% increase.

The journalists are from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Ethiopia, DRC, Gabon, Cameroon, Mauritius, Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi, Zambia, Togo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Senegal and The Gambia.

This second media roundtable has been organised by the Communications and Public Information (CPI) Directorate, Africa CDC.