Africa CDC Lifts Continental Public Health Emergency Status on Mpox

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has announced that the mpox outbreak is no longer classified as a continental public health security emergency.
The decision was confirmed in a statement issued by the Africa CDC through its Executive Director, Jean Kaseya, formally lifting the emergency status that had been imposed in response to the spread of the disease across the continent.

According to the statement, the move reflects Africa’s growing capacity to manage complex public health crises, underpinned by strengthened political leadership, regional solidarity, and effective international cooperation.

The Africa CDC explained that the decision followed a recommendation from its Emergency Consultative Group (ECG) and highlighted notable improvements in the continent’s health security architecture, coordination mechanisms, and crisis response capabilities.

The African Union’s specialised health agency reported that collective efforts have produced measurable gains. Between the transmission peaks recorded at the start and end of 2025, suspected mpox cases declined by 40 per cent, while confirmed cases dropped by 60 per cent.

The case fatality rate among suspected cases also fell sharply, from 2.6 per cent to 0.6 per cent, signalling major progress in surveillance, case management, coordination, and accountability.
Despite these gains, the Africa CDC cautioned that lifting the emergency designation does not signal the eradication of mpox on the continent. Instead, the agency described the decision as a shift from emergency response measures to a sustainable, country-led strategy aimed at long-term control and eventual elimination.

The institution noted that mpox remains endemic in several settings and warned that continued vigilance, targeted investment, and innovation will be critical to safeguarding progress and preventing a resurgence of the disease.