Mpox outbreak in Africa remains uncontrolled, warns Africa CDC

The mpox outbreak continues to pose a significant threat across Africa, with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) cautioning that the situation remains far from under control. During a briefing on Thursday, Africa CDC’s Director General, Jean Kaseya, expressed concern over the escalating number of cases, stating that the disease is spreading rapidly across the continent.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, gained global attention after a new variant was identified, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the outbreak a "public health emergency of international concern." African nations, many of which are still grappling with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, are now facing another major health crisis. The continent's already fragile healthcare systems have been further strained by the mpox outbreak, revealing persistent gaps in preparedness for large-scale public health emergencies.

According to Africa CDC data, the number of mpox cases across the continent has surged by 177% compared to the same period last year, with deaths rising by 38.5%. “We can say today that mpox is not under control in Africa,” said Kaseya. "We still have this increase of cases that is worrying for all of us."

In just one week, 2,912 new cases were reported, and the outbreak has now spread to Morocco, marking the first case in the North African country and confirming the virus’s presence in all four regions of the continent. So far, 15 out of the 55 African Union member states have reported mpox cases. Kaseya emphasized that the situation is dire, adding, "We still have people dying from mpox in Africa. In one week, we lost 14 people."

The lack of robust surveillance and testing systems in several countries remains a major obstacle to fully understanding the extent of the outbreak. In regions such as Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), multiple strains of the virus are circulating, yet weak health infrastructure makes it challenging to track the spread effectively.

While efforts are underway to combat the outbreak, responses have been uneven across the continent. Rwanda has begun its vaccination campaign, offering a glimmer of hope. Meanwhile, the DRC, identified as the epicenter of the outbreak, is set to roll out its vaccination program in early October. However, much remains to be done to ensure that vaccination efforts are scaled up across the continent, especially in countries with high transmission rates.

As mpox continues to spread, experts warn that without urgent international support and coordinated regional efforts, the outbreak could become a prolonged public health crisis. Africa CDC is urging countries to strengthen their surveillance and response mechanisms, while also calling for the international community to provide necessary resources, including vaccines and medical supplies, to help curb the spread of the disease.

This crisis follows closely on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed significant weaknesses in Africa’s healthcare infrastructure. The recurring outbreaks have underscored the urgent need for sustained investment in public health systems across the continent to build resilience against future health emergencies.