Africa CDC’s Emergency Consultative Group Recommends Continuation of Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security
February 28, 2025
The Africa CDC’s Emergency Consultative Group (ECG) has unanimously recommended maintaining Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) due to rising cases, wider spread, and a highly transmissible new variant. Since August 2024, cases have tripled, spreading to nine additional African countries, exacerbated by testing gaps, vaccine shortages, and U.S. aid suspensions. The Clade Ia (APOBEC3) variant presents a growing threat, while fragile health systems battle simultaneous outbreaks of Ebola, Marburg, measles, and cholera. Africa CDC is intensifying efforts in vaccine distribution, surveillance, and laboratory decentralization to contain Mpox’s spread and mitigate the worsening crisis.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has reaffirmed Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) following an Emergency Consultative Group (ECG) review. This decision comes amid a tripling of weekly case averages from 909 in August 2024 to 3,264 in February 2025, an expansion into nine additional countries, and the emergence of the highly transmissible Clade Ia (APOBEC3) variant. The continued spread, surveillance deficiencies, and vaccine shortages highlight the need for coordinated intervention.
The crisis has been worsened by security instability, particularly in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where health systems are collapsing under simultaneous outbreaks of Ebola, Marburg, measles, and cholera. Additionally, the suspension of U.S. foreign aid has disrupted sample collection, testing, and vaccine distribution, further weakening Mpox containment efforts.
Professor Salim Abdool Karim, Chair of the ECG, emphasized that the outbreak remains uncontrolled, resources are inadequate, and surveillance systems are weak, necessitating the PHECS extension to ensure partner coordination and resource mobilization. Africa CDC Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya pledged intensified efforts to improve vaccine strategies, decentralize laboratory testing, and strengthen outbreak monitoring, while advocating for alternative funding mechanisms to mitigate external aid disruptions.
Moving forward, Africa CDC and WHO will co-lead expanded vaccination campaigns, enhance diagnostic access, and reinforce health system resilience through regional collaboration. The ECG reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring the outbreak and providing updated recommendations. Without urgent action, the risk of sustained Mpox transmission, compounded by fragile healthcare infrastructure, could escalate into an even greater public health catastrophe across Africa and beyond.