By Ayomide Otitoju
Africa is no longer under a regional public health emergency for mpox, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has announced, though the viral infection remains endemic in several areas.
The announcement was made on Saturday by Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya, following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) September declaration that mpox was no longer a global health emergency. WHO had initially declared the worldwide emergency in August 2024 after a two-pronged outbreak, primarily affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Kaseya credited the lifting of Africa’s emergency status to improved detection, treatment, and the distribution of more than five million mpox vaccines across 16 countries since 2024. These efforts contributed to a 60 percent drop in confirmed cases between early and late 2025, while the fatality rate declined from 2.6 percent to 0.6 percent, he said.
“The lifting of the regional public health emergency does not mark the end of mpox in Africa,” Kaseya said. “It signals 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 gains and prevent resurgence.”
According to WHO data, Africa accounted for 78 percent of reported mpox cases, with the DRC, Guinea, and Madagascar among the hardest-hit countries.
