Africa CDC Appeals for More Mpox Vaccines, as Ethiopia Reports first cases
May 29, 2025
Africa urgently needs 6.4 million mpox vaccines to contain a rapidly escalating outbreak centered in Sierra Leone, which now accounts for three-quarters of the continent's confirmed cases. With just 10,000 doses available in-country and cases reported in 19 nations—including Ethiopia’s first three—there is a critical shortfall. Africa CDC has appealed for global solidarity as new cases rise sharply, nearly matching 2024's total in just five months. Japan’s pledged 1.5 million LC16 vaccines are expected imminently, but sustained funding and strategic allocation are essential to prevent further regional spread and blunt the compounded impact of concurrent disease outbreaks.
The African continent is at a critical juncture in its battle against mpox. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reports that 6.4 million vaccine doses are urgently needed to combat a worsening outbreak that has now become highly concentrated in Sierra Leone. With 648 confirmed cases reported in just the past week and over 16,900 in the first five months of 2025 alone—nearly matching the total for all of 2024—the demand for vaccines has never been more urgent.
Despite this, Sierra Leone currently has access to only around 10,000 vaccine doses, leaving its population perilously exposed. The virus is affecting all districts, particularly in high-density communities. Compounding the crisis is the emergence of new cases in other nations, such as Ethiopia, which has now reported infections in a family living near its border with Kenya. The Africa CDC has warned of the potential for rapid spread into neighboring fragile states, including Somalia, if decisive action is not taken now.
While seven countries are actively vaccinating, supply shortages persist. Africa is awaiting the arrival of 1.5 million LC16 vaccine doses donated by Japan, expected over the weekend. Yet, this shipment will not be enough to meet the scale of need. Africa CDC’s Dr. Ngashi Ngongo has called for bold, aggressive action and renewed international cooperation to contain the virus before it spreads further across the continent.
This urgent mpox crisis is unfolding alongside concurrent public health emergencies: 20 nations face cholera outbreaks, 17 are battling measles, seven report dengue cases, and four are confronting Lassa fever. With overstretched health systems and limited vaccine coverage, African nations need immediate global support to contain these epidemics and prevent further humanitarian fallout.