Mpox Spreads Across Africa: 18 Countries Report Ongoing Transmission

Mpox, a viral disease that has become a growing global health concern in recent years, continues to spread rapidly across Africa. The latest data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that 18 African nations are currently experiencing active transmission, with thousands of new cases reported this year.

Mpox Cases Surge Across Africa

Between January 1 and June 22, 2025, WHO recorded 24,012 confirmed mpox cases and 91 deaths across 21 African countries. This represents a case fatality rate (CFR) of 0.4%, highlighting the seriousness of the ongoing outbreak.

Africa remains at the heart of the global mpox crisis, accounting for the majority of cases worldwide. Sierra Leone has emerged as the most affected country in the region, with 4,294 confirmed cases and 28 deaths (CFR: 0.6%). Although WHO notes a decline in reported cases there, health experts warn this might be due to delays in data reporting. Infections have now reached all districts, with the capital, Freetown, bearing the highest burden.

The virus appears to be affecting men and women equally, with most infections reported among people aged 20 to 39 years.

Mpox Situation in Kenya

In Kenya, the Ministry of Health has confirmed 137 mpox cases across 17 counties as of June 9, 2025. The majority of infections are concentrated in:

Busia (48 cases)

Mombasa (37 cases)

Nakuru (16 cases)

Makueni (10 cases)

Smaller case clusters have emerged in Nairobi (5), Kajiado and Bungoma (3 each), and Taita Taveta, Kilifi, Kericho (2 each), with Kiambu reporting a single case.

Kenya's first mpox case was identified on July 21, 2024, and cases have steadily risen since. The government has scaled up surveillance, contact tracing, and vaccination efforts to control the spread, particularly outside the traditional hotspots along the Northern transport corridor.

Global Update: New Mpox Variants Raise Concern

As of May 2025, WHO has documented 6,823 cases and 16 deaths in 49 countries globally. The appearance of new mpox variants, known as clade Ib and clade IIb, has made the situation more complex.

Clade Ib has now been detected in Ethiopia and Italy, marking its first appearances in these regions.

Clade IIb has been confirmed in North Macedonia, Togo, and the Republic of the Congo.

Albania also reported its first case, with genetic testing underway.

Most clade Ib transmissions remain within Central and East Africa, but cases in non-endemic countries like the United States, China, the UK, and Italy show signs of international spread, often linked to travel-related transmission.

WHO Declares Continued Global Emergency

Due to the continuing transmission and geographic expansion, the World Health Organization (WHO) has extended its declaration of mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

Following the Emergency Committee’s latest meeting on June 5, 2025, WHO classified:

Clade Ib as high risk

Clade IIb as moderate risk

These assessments consider regional health infrastructure and the capacity to contain outbreaks.

WHO's Response: The "5 Cs" Strategy

To tackle the global mpox crisis, WHO is implementing its 2024–2027 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP), based on five core pillars, also known as the “5 Cs”:

1. Emergency Coordination

2. Collaborative Surveillance

3. Community Protection

4. Safe and Scalable Care

5. Access to and Delivery of Countermeasures

Mpox Vaccination Efforts in Africa

Vaccination efforts are currently active in seven African countries:

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Uganda

Nigeria

Rwanda

Liberia

Sierra Leone

Central African Republic (CAR)

So far, over 731,000 doses of the MVA-BN vaccine have been administered, with 80% distributed in DRC alone. Due to limited vaccine supplies, some countries are employing single-dose strategies to reach high-risk populations more effectively.

What You Need to Know

Mpox is spreading rapidly in Africa, with ongoing outbreaks in 18 countries.

Kenya is witnessing rising infections across multiple counties.

New variants have made global containment more difficult.

WHO has renewed its global emergency status for mpox and is urging countries to boost surveillance and vaccination.

Public health measures remain the most effective way to curb the outbreak.

Stay updated and take precautions. Mpox remains a serious health concern, and timely information, vaccination, and public awareness are key to stopping its spread.

Related post:

https://kenyaandbeyondnews.blogspot.com/2025/06/mpox-vaccine-shortage-in-africa-sparks.html