This virus seems like it's no longer a problem. It's still a threat
August 14, 2025
Mpox may seem like yesterday’s crisis, but Africa is living its resurgence. New data from the Africa CDC show outbreaks in 24 countries, nearly double the number affected a year ago. A virulent strain, clade 1b, has spread rapidly from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo into neighboring nations, fueled by conflict, mobility, and gaps in care. Nearly 97,000 suspected cases and 600 deaths have been reported this year, though experts warn the real toll is far higher. Yet fewer than one million people across the continent have been vaccinated. Global promises remain unmet, leaving Africa dangerously exposed to preventable tragedy.
Mpox’s decline from the headlines masks a stark reality: the virus is expanding its reach across Africa, with consequences that extend far beyond the continent. The Africa CDC reports outbreaks in 24 countries, up from 13 last year, many of them confronting mpox for the first time. At the center is eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where clade 1b has taken hold in a region scarred by war and weak health infrastructure. Transmission among sex workers and highly mobile populations has accelerated spread into Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya. To date, nearly 97,000 suspected cases and almost 600 deaths have been reported in 2025, but limited surveillance and stigma mean the true burden is hidden.
The global response has faltered. Despite $1.1 billion pledged for mpox control, vaccine deployment lags. Only 886,000 people across Africa have been immunized, far short of the 10 million dose target for 2025. U.S. promises of one million doses collapsed into just 90,000 delivered, with much of the remainder expiring before shipment. Cuts to foreign aid and delays in vaccine approval compounded the crisis, leaving communities unprotected. As Duke University epidemiologist Chris Beyrer cautions, the world is “walking blind,” with inadequate data and stalled momentum.
Still, there are fragile gains. Seventeen African countries have now approved the vaccine, and laboratory capacity has expanded from a handful of sites to dozens. For the first time, the Africa CDC is coordinating a continent-wide response, bringing some equity to resource allocation. Yet these efforts remain overshadowed by scale and urgency.
Mpox demonstrates the perils of global neglect. As Anne Rimoin warns, diseases ignored abroad will not remain contained. Without intensified surveillance, sustained vaccination, and genuine international cooperation, mpox risks becoming entrenched—and once again forcing its way onto the world stage.