Mpox activity in Africa has shown concerning trends as the region enters the second quarter of 2025. The number of reported cases for the first three months of the year has already approached 50% of the total number of cases seen in all of 2024. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has raised alarms, indicating that the situation could worsen if surveillance and response measures are not enhanced. This uptick in mpox cases is particularly notable because it suggests a growing and sustained level of transmission, despite efforts to control the spread of the virus in previous years.
Countries like Uganda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have reported the highest number of cases in recent weeks, accounting for 95% of the confirmed infections. However, the situation in the DRC remains uncertain. The country faces severe challenges in its efforts to control the outbreak due to the ongoing conflict in the eastern regions, which has led to difficulties in transporting samples to laboratories and low testing coverage. The DRC’s test coverage is only at 18.4%, which significantly limits the ability to accurately track the virus’s spread. This challenge is further compounded by cuts in foreign aid, which have exacerbated the difficulties in conducting proper surveillance and response activities.
In addition to mpox, the DRC is grappling with a major measles outbreak, which has further stretched the resources of health authorities. As of early 2025, approximately 12,000 measles cases have been reported, with 180 deaths. The outbreak is concentrated in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, which are difficult to reach due to ongoing armed conflict in those areas. The overlapping health crises have put immense pressure on the country’s health infrastructure and response capabilities.
Elsewhere on the continent, Ghana has reported its first mpox case after a significant 11-week break without new infections. The patient, a 29-year-old man with no history of international travel or direct contact with wildlife, works as a skin aesthetician. He was involved in treating a patient with large pimples, which is believed to be the source of his infection. Lab results indicated that this case involved the clade 2 strain of the mpox virus. The return of the virus to Ghana highlights the importance of maintaining vigilance and strengthening surveillance systems, even in countries that may not currently be considered hotspots for the disease.
In Tanzania, a country that has recently emerged as a hotspot for mpox, cases have been steadily increasing, further complicating efforts to control the spread of the virus in the region. However, Uganda, which was one of the hardest-hit countries in the past, has reported a decrease in new cases in recent weeks. This drop in cases coincides with the launch of Uganda’s second phase of its mpox vaccination campaign, aimed at boosting immunity among at-risk populations and helping to prevent further spread of the virus.
The fluctuating patterns of mpox outbreaks across the African continent underline the need for a coordinated response to strengthen surveillance, improve testing coverage, and ensure access to vaccines in areas most at risk. As new hotspots emerge, and as countries with previous outbreaks work to control the virus, the ongoing challenges faced by African health systems will require international cooperation and sustained funding to mitigate the impact of the disease.
