Canada-Africa Mpox Partnership CAMP 2.0 - an ongoing community-based interdisciplinary model for mpox pandemic preparedness

The Canada-Africa Mpox Partnership (CAMP) initiative was launched in 2022 in response to the global crisis triggered by the spread of mpox clade II in Canada and Nigeria. CAMP is a collaborative, bi-national and interdisciplinary research network that has been working together to develop new knowledge and resources to detect and treat mpox. The second wave of the mpox outbreak in endemic and non-endemic countries in August 2024 presented another critical opportunity to address knowledge gaps and build capacity for pandemic preparedness, particularly in the areas of detection and risk estimation of mpox clade 1.

The objective of this study is to leverage the ongoing CAMP study in Nigeria and Canada as a platform for deepening research on mpox clade II, and expanding research on clade I, while strengthening public health infrastructure for pandemic preparedness and emergency response. CAMP 2.0 emphasizes research capacity building in Nigeria, fostering joint modelling, genomic surveillance and immunological research. It will involve clinical and laboratory research in vaccine uptake and response, surveillance in minority communities and animal reservoirs, community engagement and strengthened laboratory capacity.

This will not only bolster national response systems but also position Nigeria and Africa as active contributors to global mpox and pandemic research. By expanding and enhancing CAMP’s interdisciplinary framework, CAMP 2.0 responds to a growing public health threat with an inclusive, data-driven, scalable model, strengthening pandemic preparedness in Nigeria and beyond.