Prosper Okoye
Africa is no longer experiencing a mpox public health emergency, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has announced.
Although the viral infection remains endemic in parts of the continent.
The statement, made on Saturday by Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, follows the World Health Organization’s September 2025 declaration that mpox was no longer a global health emergency. WHO had initially declared a worldwide emergency in August 2024 after a two-pronged outbreak, particularly affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Join our WhatsApp ChannelKaseya said Africa was lifting its emergency status due to improvements in detection, treatment, and the deployment of more than five million mpox vaccines across 16 countries since 2024. These efforts helped reduce confirmed cases by 60% between early and late 2025, while deaths among those infected fell from 2.6% to 0.6%.
“Lifting the regional emergency status does not mark the end of mpox in Africa,” Kaseya warned. “Rather, 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, 78% of global mpox cases have occurred in Africa, with the DRC, Guinea, and Madagascar among the hardest hit countries.
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The Africa CDC’s announcement reflects growing confidence that strengthened health systems and vaccine campaigns are helping the continent manage the disease, but officials caution that continued monitoring and public health investment remain critical to prevent future outbreaks.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
