Togo reports mpox outbreak as activity escalates in West Africa
May 23, 2025
Togo’s confirmation of three mpox cases marks the 25th African nation affected in the current outbreak, underscoring the virus’s relentless advance across West Africa. With Clade 2 identified and no clear source of infection, the detection raises concerns of silent community transmission. Meanwhile, Sierra Leone has become the epicenter, accounting for 61% of Africa’s cases last week. Health systems are overwhelmed, and genetic sequencing reveals a proliferation of Clade 2b sublineages. The rapid geographic spread and shifting transmission patterns highlight the urgent need for enhanced surveillance, diagnostic support, and vaccination to contain this escalating public health emergency.
Togo’s declaration of a mpox outbreak with three confirmed Clade 2 infections marks another troubling milestone in West Africa’s growing public health crisis. The affected patients have no direct link to known outbreaks, signaling potential undetected community transmission and elevating concerns about the virus’s silent spread. This brings the number of affected countries on the continent to 25, with 16 experiencing active transmission. Africa CDC is mobilizing support to Togo, while sequencing and contact tracing efforts are underway to understand the virus’s local footprint.
The situation is particularly dire in Sierra Leone, where the mpox epidemic has surged out of control. Last week alone, the country reported 658 confirmed cases—61% of the continent’s total. All 16 districts have reported infections, primarily in urban centers such as Freetown. The Clade 2b virus, known for its global circulation, is driving the spike. Alarmingly, in-country sequencing has already identified 22 sublineages (A.2.2) of the virus. Healthcare infrastructure is overwhelmed, with reports of patients sharing beds in facilities that were not designed for such high caseloads.
Unlike previous African hotspots, Sierra Leone’s mpox transmission appears concentrated among young adults, including students and drivers. The absence of sex workers as a primary vector distinguishes it from previous outbreak patterns. Meanwhile, Ghana has reported four new cases after an eight-week lull, and Kenya, Zambia, and Nigeria are seeing gradual rises in transmission.
While the Democratic Republic of the Congo reports a stabilizing situation in conflict-hit provinces, the broader picture remains worrisome. The resurgence of cases in Uganda and the challenges faced by Togo and Sierra Leone highlight the urgent need for increased genomic surveillance, expanded access to vaccines, and regional coordination to curb mpox’s advance before the crisis deepens further.