Multi-Country Mpox and other health emergencies in Africa

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Safeguarding Africa’s Health
Safeguarding Africa’s Health

Last week, one country, South Sudan reported Its first confirmed case of clade I
(Sequencing ongoing). The case had a travel history to a neighboring country
reporting mpox outbreak.
In 2025, 16,291 cases were notified, of which 4,203 were confirmed with 143
deaths among suspected cases and 11 deaths among the confirmed cases and
from 13 countries
13/22 countries are in the active phase of the outbreak and 9/22 countries are in
control phase
Epi week 5 of 2025: 10 countries notified 2,560 cases (vs 2947 EW4) of which
726 were confirmed (vs 882 EW4) and 41 deaths among suspected cases (vs
21 EW4)
On 7th February additional Rwanda receives 5,800 vaccines were delivered to
Rwanda and 200k to DRC
9 confirmed cases of Sudan Ebola virus has been reported in Uganda since the
declaration of the outbreak
Pause of USG funds disrupts delivery of medical countermeasures for Ebola and
mpox response on the continent
No new confirmed cases of Marburg has been reported from Tanzania
Key updates
A ‘decline’ in mpox cases over the last three weeks has
been observed, however this must be interpreted with
caution
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Progression of mpox in Africa
January – April 2024
Cases notified: 5,967
Confirmed: 708
Deaths: 333
Member States (MS): 6
January – August 2024
Cases: 23,622
Confirmed: 5,116
Deaths: 617
MS: 13 (+7)
January 2024 – February 2025
Cases: 97,785
Confirmed: 22,390
Deaths: 1,735
MS: 22 (+9)
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Increase:
Zambia (+18 cases)
Sierra Leone (+17 cases)
South Sudan (+ 1 case)
Congo (+200%)
Uganda (+59%)
DRC (+24%)
Decrease:
Côte d’Ivoire (-80%)
Liberia (-78%)
Nigeria (-54%)
Burundi (-51%)
CAR (-50%)
Rwanda (-42%)
Kenya (-34%)
Incidence of confirmed cases in countries in active phase
Previous = (Epi week 46-51) , Last= (Epi week 52-5)
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Mpox Situation in DRC
Epi week 5, 2025
New cases in epi week 5
● New cases notified: 2,178 vs 2,052 in Epi W4 ( 6.1 % )
● New confirmed cases: 404 vs 481 Epi W4 (16%)
● New deaths among confirmed cases: 2 (CFR: 0.5%)
● New deaths on Suspected cases: 41 (CFR 1.9%) vs 21 in EpiW4
● Reporting coverage: 11/26 vs 7/26 Provinces Epi W4
Among total confirmed cases:
● Males: 46.7 (among confirmed cases)
● Children <15 yrs: 49.3%
● Clade: Ia and Ib are circulating. Co-circulation of Ia and Ib in Kasai,
Kinshasa, Mai Ndombe, Tshopo
Highlight.
Testing coverage: 29% (637/2178)
Testing Rate: 100%
Test Positivity: 42 % (404/637)
Risk factors: Close contact, sexual contacts, malnutrition, population mobility,
sub-optimal contact tracing, ongoing conflict, poor animal-based surveillance.
26
Districts Deaths
833
*Backlog data harmonization is ongoing
71,704
cases notified
15,539
confirmed
1,443
deaths
CFR
2%
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Heterogeneity of Age-Sex Distribution of mpox cases in DRC
● Children < 15 are more
affected in endemic
provinces (reporting mainly
clade Ia).
● In Kinshasa, the adults are
most affected (where both
clade I a and b have been
detected in sexual networks
● children < 5 and young
adults are most affected in
South Kivu and North Kivu
Children are the most affected in endemic provinces demonstrating the
need for the urgent rule out of vaccines in this population
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Suspected Cases EW 5 Confirmed Cases EW 5
80% of Cases and Deaths in 8 provinces in DRC- Epi week 1- 5
Suspected cases by province in EW 1-5
● An increase in the number of
suspected cases were reported
● Decrease in confirmed cases in
several provinces e.g Tshopo,
Bas-Uele, Maniema
● Tshopo reports 47% of deaths
amongst suspected cases (epi
week 1-4)
● Humanitarian crises in Nord
Kivu challenges confirmation
& reporting
A pause on the USG funding is significantly
affecting sample referral on the ground.
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Mpox Situation in Uganda
Epi week 5, 2025
New cases in epi week 5
● New confirmed cases: 222 vs 323 in Epi W4
● New confirmed deaths: 0 (CFR: 0.0%)
● New Deaths on suspected Cases: 0 (CFR: 0.0%)
Among total confirmed cases:
● Males: 56.9% (among confirmed cases)
● Clade: Ib
Highlight.
Testing coverage: 100%
Test Positivity: 60 %
83/146 Districts affected, with 52 active districts
Risk factors: Co-mobility of mpox and HIV currently notice in
seven Districts, with Kampala reporting the most cases(17)
26
Districts Deaths
833
*Backlog data harmonization is ongoing
4131
cases notified
2479
confirmed
16
deaths
CFR
0.6%
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Young adults are the most affected in the Uganda
This table presents mpox case distribution by
sex and age across Ugandan districts with more
than 50 cases. Key observations include:
Persons between 18-39 years account for the
highest (80%) number of cases, in all hotspot
districts in Uganda
Males consistently have higher case numbers
than females in most age groups and districts.
Older adults (>50 years) and children (0-4 years)
have significantly fewer cases.
Kampala and Wakiso Districts show the highest
burden indicating urban transmission hotspots
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Vaccination update focus – Uganda
Received 10k doses of Mpox vaccines on
21/1/2025
Started vaccination in Kampala 1st Feb in 2
districts (Kawempe & Makindye)
Sex workers targeted for the first block
Young adults aged 20-49 yrs represent 86% of
total vaccinated
Documentation process for allocated 100,000
doses ongoing
More than 9,000 doses administered in 1st block within 7 days
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Mpox Situation in Burundi
Epi week 5, 2025
New cases in epi week 5
● New cases notified: 160 vs 135 from Ep W4 (18.5 %)
● New confirmed cases: 71 vs 52 from Ep W4 (36.5 % )
● New confirmed deaths: 0 (CFR: 0.0%)
● New Deaths on Suspected Cases: 0(CFR 0.0%)
Among total confirmed cases:
● Males: 52% (among confirmed cases)
● Children <15 yrs: 37%
● Clade: Ib circulating.
Highlight.
Testing coverage: 99.1%
Test Positivity: 51.3 %
45/51 affected Districts with 16 Active.
Risk factors: Long turnaround time from sample collection to laboratory
confirmation
Very few isolation units and WASH. Poor community-based surveillance and
mpox specific animal surveillance
26
Districts Deaths
833
*Backlog data harmonization is ongoing
6489
cases notified
3288
confirmed
1
death
CFR
0.03%
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Vaccine collaborative procurement portal
6 Countries have
received vaccines
5 Countries are
currently Vaccinating
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1.5%
10
Cases
10
Deaths
100%
CFR
1/30
Regions
Marburg Virus Disease Outbreak in
Tanzania
as of 10th February 2025
As of 10th February 2025, the situation remain the same as
per the previous updates.
● Cases: 10 cases (2 confirmed; 8 probable)
● Deaths: 10 (CFR: 100%),
NB: The last confirmed cases was tested on 21stJanuary
2025, and No additional cases reported since then
● Location: Biharamulo district, Kagera region
○ Borders: Burundi, Rwanda & Uganda
Response efforts
The Ministry of Health continue to lead the response by
coordinating the efforts of all actors both at national and sub-
national levels.
Map of Tanzania showing Biharamulo district in Kagera region
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1.5%
9
Cases
1
Deaths
11.1%
CFR
3
Districts
Sudan Ebola Virus in Uganda
as of 10 February 2025
Uganda MoH declared outbreak of Sudan Ebola
virus disease on 30th January
Confirmed cases: 9 (5 are HCWs)
Deaths: 1 (CFR: 11.1%)
All 8 cases on admission in stable condition
Single transmission chain which appears under
control
No established transmission outside single
transmission chain
Ecological investigations are ongoing to
determine the source of the outbreak
Africa CDC and WHO have deployed experts
Map of Uganda showing location of Kampala district
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1.5%
223,657
Cases
Response
● National level coordination
● Launch of Oral cholera vaccination campaign
o 100,369 people vaccinated
● Deployment of rapid response teams
New cases since last update:
○ Cases: 979
○ Deaths: 25 (CFR: 2.5%)
○ Provinces reporting: 9
Cumulative:
o Cases: 2,259 cases (435 confirmed)
o Deaths: 75 (CFR: 3.4%)
Persons affected
○ Males: 54%
○ Age group most affected
<15 years: 40.3% of all cases
<15 years: 35% of all deaths
Cholera in Angola
as of 5 February 2025
Epidemic curve of Angola cholera outbreak 5 February 2025
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● While significant progress has been made in the mpox response, the current insecurity and the pause in the USG
funds pose a significant risk to the control of the outbreak.
● The spread of mpox to South Sudan emphasises the need to heighten surveillance on the continent- continued
surveillance and preparedness are crucial to prevent resurgence
● Although laboratory capacity in the DRC has improved, the current suspension of USG funding hinders sample
transport within and between provinces
o The IMST is supporting the government in rolling out the laboratory decentralization strategy
o USG announced waiver for humanitarian funds
● Five countries are currently conducting mpox vaccination and more vaccines are being donated and delivered to
countries.
● The new Ebola cases reported over the last weeks demonstrates the need to strengthen community surveillance
using an integrated approach.
● Increase domestic resource on health security is critical for the continent at this time to bridge the gap created by
the USG pause.
Summary
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