By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
Africa is no longer under a public health emergency for mpox, the Director General of Africa CDC, Jean Kaseya, announced on Saturday, though the disease remains endemic in parts of the continent.
Kaseya said improved detection, wider access to treatment, and the distribution of over five million vaccine doses across 16 African countries since 2024 have led to a 60 percent drop in cases and a fall in fatality rates from 2.6% to 0.6% in 2025.
The decision follows the WHO’s September announcement that mpox is no longer a global public health emergency, after its 2024 outbreak, largely in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Kaseya warned that the disease has not been eliminated, stressing that continued vigilance, targeted investment, and innovation are needed to prevent resurgence.
Africa still accounts for 78 percent of global mpox cases, with DRC, Guinea, and Madagascar the most affected.
