Kenya and Zambia battle mpox spikes as African countries manage multiple health threats
October 2, 2025
Africa’s fight against infectious diseases remains complex, as mpox trends diverge across the continent. While major hot spots like Sierra Leone show improvement, Kenya and Zambia are seeing troubling spikes, with local spread now suspected in Senegal. At the same time, cholera cases are surging in Chad, Burundi, and Angola, pushing the continent toward 300,000 cases this year. The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ebola outbreak offers cautious optimism with no new cases for nearly a week, but sustained vigilance is essential. The overlapping crises highlight the urgent need for stronger surveillance, community engagement, and investment in health infrastructure.
Africa’s public health landscape remains precarious as multiple infectious disease outbreaks challenge strained systems. The Africa CDC has reported that while mpox cases are declining in some high-burden countries, spikes in Kenya and Zambia are deeply concerning. Kenya’s outbreak, once concentrated among truck drivers and sex workers in transit corridors, has now spread into Nairobi, signaling a shift in dynamics. A high test-positivity rate underscores the need for expanded surveillance, and Africa CDC will engage Kenyan officials for a closer review. In Zambia, suspected and confirmed cases surged in Copperbelt, Muchinga, and Lusaka provinces, though the identification of positive contacts shows progress in tracing efforts.
Senegal, the newest mpox-affected country, illustrates the continuing risk of spread. Following an imported clade 1b case in August, the country confirmed a clade 2b case in September, followed by four related infections. This strongly suggests local transmission, emphasizing the persistent threat of mpox expanding into new regions.
Alongside mpox, cholera remains an escalating crisis, with totals expected to reach 300,000 cases by year’s end, triple that of 2022. Chad’s limited access to outbreak zones hampers response efforts, Burundi’s sharp case rise signals emerging hot spots, and Angola’s resurgence underscores the importance of addressing water, sanitation, and hygiene as root causes. Sudan continues to bear the heaviest cholera burden despite a 40 percent decline in cases.
There is cautious optimism surrounding the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ebola outbreak in Kasai province. With no new cases reported for nearly a week, vaccination campaigns and deployment of therapeutic antibodies are showing results, though 1,800 contacts remain under monitoring. WHO’s response has included water infrastructure and oxygen supplies, vital for patient survival.
Together, these overlapping outbreaks reveal the fragility of public health systems and reinforce the need for sustained funding, regional collaboration, and long-term resilience planning.