JAKARTA - The African Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) ended the continental emergency status for Mpox or monkeypox on Thursday, more than a year after it was established.
The move follows recommendations from the Africa CDC's Emergency Consultative Group, which advises the agency's director-general on Mpox.
"With this, I announce the lifting of the continental MPOX health emergency status. This decision reflects Africa's increasing capacity to lead complex public health responses, based on strong political leadership, regional solidarity, and effective international partnerships," said Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya in a statement. , as reported by Anadolu (24/1).
The Africa CDC announced the declaration of the MPOX emergency status in August 2024 after a spike in cases across the continent.
At least 80,276 suspected cases and 1,340 deaths were reported in 2024, showing a more than fivefold increase in cases and a twofold increase in deaths compared to the same period in 2023.
The declaration helps mobilize collective efforts and funding to contain the outbreak.
Thus, partners have mobilized more than 1 billion US dollars in financing, strengthened community-based surveillance, expanded laboratory capacity and genomic sequencing, and distributed more than 5 million doses of mpox vaccines in 16 countries.
For Africa CDC, the effort has had a measurable impact, with between the peak period of transmission in early 2025 and late 2025, suspected cases decreasing by 40 percent and confirmed cases by 60 percent.
The case fatality rate among suspected cases has dropped from 2.6 percent to 0.6 percent, reflecting improved detection, treatment, coordination, and accountability at all levels of response.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is the most affected country, with 96 percent of reported cases and 97 percent of deaths.
However, Kaseya said the lifting of the emergency status did not mean the end of mpox in Africa.
"Rather, it signals a transition from an emergency response to a sustainable, state-led pathway towards elimination. Mpox remains endemic in some regions, and continued vigilance, targeted investment, and innovation will be critical to consolidating achievements and preventing resurgence," he said.
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