Africa is no longer under a regional public health emergency for mpox, although the viral infection “remains endemic in several settings,” the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has announced.
The declaration was made on Saturday by Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya, months after the World Health Organisation (WHO) lifted its global public health emergency status for mpox in September.
WHO had declared a worldwide health emergency in August 2024 following a dual outbreak of the viral disease, previously known as monkeypox and related to smallpox, largely centred in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Kaseya said Africa’s decision to lift its regional emergency status was driven by significant improvements in disease surveillance, treatment capacity, and the deployment of more than five million mpox vaccine doses across 16 countries since 2024.
As a result of these measures, confirmed mpox cases fell by 60 per cent between early and late 2025, while the fatality rate among infected patients declined sharply from 2.6 per cent to 0.6 per cent, according to the Africa CDC.
However, Kaseya cautioned that the move does not signal the end of the disease on the continent.
“Lifting the regional public health emergency does not mark the end of mpox in Africa,” he said. “Rather, it reflects a transition from emergency response to a sustained, country-led pathway toward elimination.
“Mpox remains endemic in several settings, and continued vigilance, targeted investment, and innovation will be essential to consolidate these gains and prevent resurgence.”
According to the WHO, Africa accounts for 78 per cent of reported mpox cases globally, with the DRC, Guinea, and Madagascar among the most affected countries.
AFP
