Africa Breathes a Sigh of Relief: Mpox Emergency Declared Over, But Challenges Remain
In a significant development, Africa has officially emerged from the shadow of a public health emergency caused by mpox, though the virus continues to persist in certain regions. This announcement, made by Jean Kaseya, the director general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, comes on the heels of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration in September that mpox no longer constitutes a global health emergency.
But here’s where it gets controversial: while the emergency status has been lifted, mpox remains endemic in several areas, raising questions about long-term management and prevention. The WHO had initially declared mpox—formerly known as Monkeypox and closely related to smallpox—a worldwide public health emergency in August 2024, following a dual epidemic that primarily affected the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Kaseya attributed the end of the regional emergency to enhanced detection methods, improved treatment options, and the distribution of over five million mpox vaccines across 16 countries since 2024. These efforts have yielded impressive results: confirmed cases plummeted by 60 percent between early and late 2025, and the fatality rate among infected individuals dropped from 2.6 percent to 0.6 percent.
And this is the part most people miss: the lifting of the emergency status is not a declaration of victory over mpox. Instead, it marks a shift from emergency response to a sustained, country-led strategy aimed at elimination. Kaseya emphasized that continued vigilance, targeted investment, and innovation are crucial to prevent a resurgence of the virus.
According to WHO data, Africa bore the brunt of the mpox outbreak, accounting for 78 percent of global cases, with the DRC, Guinea, and Madagascar being the hardest-hit countries. This highlights the need for ongoing support and resources to combat the virus in these regions.
A Bold Question for Our Readers: As Africa transitions from emergency response to long-term management, do you think the global community has done enough to support affected countries? Or is there a risk of complacency now that the emergency status has been lifted? Share your thoughts in the comments below—we’d love to hear your perspective!
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