Mpox activity escalates in Uganda as vaccine shipments to Africa pass 1 million doses
April 11, 2025
Mpox continues to surge across Africa, with Uganda now accounting for half of all new cases, according to the Africa CDC. The continent is recording about 3,000 new cases weekly, driven largely by sexual transmission in densely populated urban areas. Uganda alone is grappling with concurrent outbreaks of mpox, Ebola, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. While over 1 million vaccine doses have arrived across Africa, officials estimate 6.4 million are needed within six months to curb spread. Encouragingly, Uganda vaccinated 20,000 people in just one week. Testing challenges persist in conflict zones like eastern DRC, complicating surveillance and response efforts.
Africa continues to battle a steady wave of mpox infections, with the continent averaging approximately 3,000 new cases each week, according to the latest Africa CDC briefing. Uganda has emerged as a focal point, responsible for 50% of new cases in the past week. Health officials attribute the surge to transmission within sexual networks, particularly in crowded urban centers like Mbarara and Masaka. Compounding the crisis, Uganda is concurrently managing outbreaks of Ebola Sudan virus and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. While the country may declare the Ebola outbreak over by late April if no new cases emerge, the intensifying mpox situation remains a top concern.
Dr. Yap Boum, Africa CDC’s deputy incident manager for mpox, noted that people with underlying health conditions are disproportionately affected, and deaths are rising. In response, Uganda’s rapid vaccination effort has seen 100,000 doses delivered and 20,000 people vaccinated in just one week—an achievement applauded by officials and made possible through the support of donors and robust public engagement.
Africa has now received over 1 million mpox vaccine doses, but officials warn that 6.4 million are needed over the next six months to control the epidemic. This shortfall underscores the urgency of global support and coordinated action.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the epicenter of the outbreak, continues to report steady activity. However, testing and surveillance are severely hindered by armed conflict and health funding cuts, limiting the transport of diagnostic samples to laboratories.
As the region works to stem the tide of mpox, efficient vaccination campaigns, targeted public health messaging, and bolstered surveillance remain critical. The growing pressure on already strained health systems demands not only intensified regional coordination but renewed international solidarity to ensure that this outbreak does not spiral further beyond control.