As mpox escalates in Sierra Leone, activity in other countries reflects mixed picture
June 12, 2025
Mpox cases in Africa present a varied landscape—some countries like the DRC and Uganda are seeing declines, while others, including newly affected nations such as Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, and Malawi, face surging infections. Sierra Leone alone accounted for 63% of all confirmed mpox cases in Africa last week. Africa CDC and WHO have extended their respective emergency declarations as vaccine shortages and low testing coverage hamper containment. A shipment of 97,600 vaccine doses is expected mid-June, but challenges with contact tracing and equitable vaccine allocation continue to threaten response effectiveness. Ring vaccination remains critical to stopping further spread.
As mpox continues to circulate across Africa, the outbreak reflects both progress and mounting challenges. According to the Africa CDC, some countries like Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are reporting fewer new cases, though low testing coverage—especially in the DRC—warrants cautious interpretation. Promisingly, no new mpox cases were reported last week in Kampala, a previous hotspot.
However, in West Africa, the situation is far more dire. Sierra Leone is experiencing exponential growth in cases driven by the clade 2 virus strain. With test positivity at 52%, health officials fear that confirmed cases only scratch the surface. Sierra Leone represented 63% of all mpox cases in Africa last week, and the outbreak continues to challenge overstretched public health infrastructure. Liberia and Ghana are also reporting upward trends, with Ghana seeing 144 new cases in one week and geographic spread into new regions. Liberia is contending with both clade 2a and 2b variants. In southern Africa, Malawi is reporting increased cases, primarily in Lilongwe.
Africa CDC and the WHO have extended public health emergency declarations, underscoring the seriousness of the evolving situation. A critical obstacle is the ongoing vaccine shortage. While 97,600 additional doses funded by Gavi and UNICEF are expected to arrive mid-June, they are far from sufficient. Countries are managing short shelf-life donations by distributing them to areas with established immunization programs. Meanwhile, inadequate contact tracing—particularly in Sierra Leone—threatens to undermine ring vaccination efforts, a key containment strategy.
The continent needs increased international support, timely vaccine access, and stronger surveillance to stop the outbreak’s trajectory. As clade 2 continues its geographic expansion, equitable and proactive public health interventions are essential to prevent a broader regional crisis.