Africa has reported 24,272 mpox cases since the beginning of 2025 as the death toll from ongoing outbreak has reached 260 during the period, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Ngashi Ngongo, chief of staff and head of the Executive Office at Africa CDC, during an online media briefing on Thursday evening, said that the African continent has reported 24,272 mpox cases since the start of the year. Of these, 6,034 were confirmed and some 260 related deaths were recorded.
Ngongo said out of the total 22 African countries that are affected by the ongoing mpox outbreak, 15 countries are currently experiencing active transmission of the virus, while seven countries are in a controlled phase.
Data from the African Union’s specialized healthcare agency show that during last week alone, 11 African countries have reported 2,610 new cases, including 664 confirmed ones, and 45 new related deaths.
Meanwhile, the Africa CDC has expressed its grave concern over the difficulties in addressing the mpox outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where clashes have intensified between the DRC army and the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels in recent weeks.
According to data from the Africa CDC, the DRC, currently the epicenter of the mpox outbreak in Africa, reported 1,918 cases in the past week, including 202 confirmed cases and 44 new related fatalities.
Ngongo highlighted the ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict, with over two million people displaced, both internally and across borders. He warned that the situation is severely hindering efforts to respond to the mpox outbreak.
MG/as/APA