MPOX TRACKER

In early 2025, Africa’s mpox hotspots continue to see steady case counts, with 21 countries reporting cases since the start of 2024 and 10 nations currently facing active outbreaks, according to Africa CDC. The Central African Republic (CAR) has become the fourth African country to launch a vaccination campaign, initiating immunizations on January 18 with 2,300 doses from its 12,300-dose allocation.

Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, head of Africa CDC’s mpox incident management team, revealed that the region reported 5,842 cases in the first two weeks of 2025, excluding the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Africa’s top hotspot. The period also saw 38 deaths across the continent.

Urban centers, including Kampala (Uganda), Kinshasa (DRC), and Bujumbura (Burundi), have emerged as focal points for intervention due to rising case numbers. In Uganda, escalating deaths—particularly among individuals with preexisting conditions—highlight the severity of the outbreak, raising alarm among health officials.

Sierra Leone, the continent’s newest affected nation, has reported 12 confirmed cases from seven districts. Genetic sequencing of its initial cases identified clade 2b, the global strain dominant since 2022. Meanwhile, the DRC and its neighbors continue to battle the novel clade 1b strain, adding complexity to the mpox situation across Africa.

The continent faces a challenging public health landscape, marked by different viral strains requiring tailored interventions. Vaccination campaigns, enhanced urban response strategies, and clade-specific containment efforts are critical to mitigating the ongoing crisis. As cases persist in regions like the DRC and Uganda, collaboration across affected nations remains key to addressing both the immediate outbreak and preventing future spread. Africa CDC's efforts underscore the importance of sustained investment in vaccines, genetic surveillance, and urban-focused health infrastructure to contain the mpox epidemic.