MPOX TRACKER

The mpox outbreak in Africa stands at a critical juncture as U.S. foreign aid is frozen and escalating rebel violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) disrupts containment efforts. Despite coordinated global intervention—including contributions from Japan, France, and the U.S.—the outbreak continues to record nearly 900 new cases weekly across 12 African nations.

In Goma, a city deeply impacted by ongoing conflict, a fragile public health infrastructure has been further destabilized. Rebel forces recently took control, looting treatment centers and forcing more than 100 mpox patients to flee. Experts fear these displaced individuals now pose an increased risk of community transmission. The crisis is exacerbated by the suspension of USAID funding, which had been instrumental in supporting vaccine distribution, diagnostics, and protective equipment.

With nearly a million vaccine doses pledged, the sudden funding freeze has left hundreds of thousands of doses stranded in warehouses far from the DRC. Public health officials warn that the loss of support undermines months of progress in containing the outbreak. Dr. Anne Rimoin, a longtime expert on mpox in the DRC, stresses that without U.S. assistance, setbacks will be catastrophic—not only for the DRC but globally.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners are scrambling to salvage surveillance and vaccination efforts. However, without immediate action, the collapse of containment strategies could allow mpox to spread beyond Africa’s borders, creating a renewed global health threat. Experts call for urgent intervention to restore funding and reestablish treatment access before the outbreak spirals further out of control.