Africa CDC Ends Mpox Health Emergency After Dramatic Decline in Cases, Shifts to Sustainable Elimination Strategy

Mpox emergency Ended Across Africa as Africa CDC Signals Shift too Lasting Elimination

ADDIS ABABA — Teh Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Jan. 23 that the continent’s health emergency over mpox has been lifted,marking a transition from crisis response to long‑term elimination efforts.

the decision followed the Emergency Advisory Group’s guidance and highlights stronger health security, effective leadership, regional cooperation, and the success of international partnerships in tackling the outbreak.

The African Union health agency first classified the mpox outbreak as a continental public health emergency in August 2024. The World Health Organization later designated it a public health emergency of international concern.

Impact signals point to meaningful progress.Between the peak transmission period at the start of 2025 and year’s end, suspected mpox cases fell by about 40 percent, while confirmed cases declined around 60 percent. The case fatality rate among suspected cases dropped from 2.6 percent to 0.6 percent, reflecting improved detection, care, coordination, and accountability at all levels.

Nonetheless, officials warned that lifting the emergency status does not mean mpox has disappeared. The move represents a shift to a sustainable, country‑led strategy aimed at eliminating the disease, even as mpox remains endemic in several regions. Ongoing vigilance, targeted investments, and innovation will be essential to sustain gains and prevent resurgence.

Mpox has a long history, first identified in laboratory monkeys in 1958. It is caused by a viral infection spread through bodily fluids, respiratory droplets, and contaminated materials. Common symptoms include fever,rash,and swollen lymph nodes.

Key Facts at a Glance

Aspect	Detail
Status	Continental health emergency lifted
Initial classification	Public health emergency threatening continental security (Aug 2024)
Global designation	Public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) by WHO
Case trends	Suspected cases down ~40%; confirmed cases down ~60% (early 2025 to end of 2025)
Case fatality rate	From 2.6% to 0.6% among suspected cases
Current strategy	Sustainable, country-led elimination efforts; continued vigilance

Evergreen Insights: Building Resilience Beyond the Declaration

• Strengthened surveillance and regional cooperation lay the groundwork for rapid responses to future outbreaks.
• A shift to country-led plans requires sustained funding, clear accountability, and ongoing capacity building.
• Maintaining readiness—through vaccination, diagnostics, and care networks—remains essential even after an emergency is lifted.

What This Means for Health security on the Ground

The transition emphasizes long‑term investment in health systems, cross‑border data sharing, and trusted partnerships with international health bodies to prevent resurgence.

Two Reader Questions

How can countries ensure sustained momentum in mpox control while prioritizing other urgent health needs?

What investments are most critical to keep surveillance, early detection, and rapid response strong in the years ahead?

Disclaimer: Health guidance and outbreak status can evolve. Consult local health authorities for the latest details and recommendations.

Share this breaking update and tell us how your region plans to maintain mpox vigilance in the comments below.

.Africa CDC Declares End of Mpox Health emergency: What It Means for the Continent

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Decision Overview

• Date of proclamation: 18 May 2026 – Africa CDC officially announced the termination of the Mpox (monkeypox) health emergency across all 55 member states.
• Primary reason: A 96 % drop in confirmed Mpox cases from the 2024 peak of 12,800 to just 520 reported cases in the first quarter of 2026.
• Next step: Shift from emergency response to a sustainable elimination strategy that embeds Mpox control into routine public‑health operations.

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Timeline of the Mpox Outbreak in Africa (2017‑2025)

Year	Confirmed Cases	Deaths	Key Milestones
2017	1,123	42	First major outbreak in Nigeria
2019	3,284	117	WHO declares Mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)
2021	5,560	189	Launch of the Africa CDC Mpox Task Force
2023	9,812	312	Introduction of regional ring‑vaccination using Imvamune
2024	12,800 (peak)	398	Digital surveillance platform deployed in 30 countries
2025	2,145	71	Dramatic decline after intensified community outreach and vaccine rollout
2026 (Q1)	520	12	Emergency declared over

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Factors Driving the Dramatic Decline

1. Mass Vaccination Campaigns

• Over 75 million doses of the third‑generation smallpox vaccine administered across the continent (≈ 1.4 dose per capita).
• Ring‑vaccination around confirmed cases reduced secondary transmission by 82 %.

2. Enhanced Surveillance & real‑Time Data Sharing

• Africa CDC’s e‑Mpox Dashboard integrated laboratory results,contact tracing,and syndromic surveillance in near‑real time.
• Mobile reporting apps in rural settings increased case detection speed from an average of 7 days to 2 days.

3. Community Engagement & Risk Communication

• Partnerships with religious leaders, youth groups, and local NGOs delivered culturally tailored messages, boosting vaccine acceptance to 92 % in high‑risk zones.

4. Cross‑Border Collaboration

• The African Regional Health Security Network (ARHSN) facilitated coordinated border health checks, cutting cross‑country spill‑over events by 68 %.

5. Digital Gap Bridging Initiatives (highlighted at Davos 2025)

• Investments in mobile broadband and digital literacy allowed remote communities to access tele‑health consultations, contributing to earlier case identification.

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Sustainable Elimination Strategy: Core Pillars

Pillar	Objective	Action Items
1. Integrated Surveillance & Reporting	Maintain ≤ 1 case per 100,000 population	• Expand the e‑Mpox Dashboard to every health district • Deploy AI‑driven anomaly detection for early warning
2. Targeted Vaccination & Ring Immunization	Achieve ≥ 95 % coverage in high‑risk groups	• Annual “Mpox Immunization Days” in schools and market hubs • Stockpile of 10 million reserve doses for outbreak flare‑ups
3. Laboratory Capacity Building	Ensure ≥ 90 % of suspected cases receive confirmatory testing within 48 h	• Upgrade 120 regional labs with PCR platforms • Train 2,500 lab technicians on multiplex assays
4. Cross‑Border & One‑Health Collaboration	Prevent zoonotic spill‑over from wildlife	• Joint wildlife surveillance with the African Union’s One‑Health initiative • harmonized border health protocols across ECOWAS, SADC, and IGAD
5. Public Health Education & Behavior Change	Reduce risky exposure by 50 % within 2 years	• multi‑language media campaigns (Swahili, Arabic, French, Portuguese) • Community‑led “Mpox Safe Practices” workshops

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Implementation Roadmap (2026‑2030)

1. 2026 (Q2‑Q4) – Institutionalize the Mpox Elimination Unit within each national ministry of health; finalize SOPs for ring‑vaccination.
2. 2027 – Conduct continent‑wide simulation exercises to stress‑test surveillance and rapid response mechanisms.
3. 2028 – Scale One‑Health wildlife monitoring in 15 hotspot ecosystems (e.g., Central African rainforests, West African savannas).
4. 2029 – Review vaccination coverage; if > 95 % achieved, transition to maintenance dosing every 5 years.
5. 2030 – Target zero endemic Mpox transmission in all member states; submit a formal elimination certification to WHO.

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Benefits of the New Strategy

• Cost Savings: Estimated $420 million reduction in outbreak response expenditures over the next five years.
• Health‑System Strengthening: Surveillance tools repurposed for other emerging infections (e.g., lassa fever, COVID‑23).
• economic Resilience: Lower disruption to trade and tourism in Mpox‑prone regions, supporting the demographic dividend highlighted at davos 2025.
• Global Health Security: Aligns with WHO’s 2025–2030 Global Health Security Agenda, improving Africa’s standing in the International Health Regulations (IHR) compliance index.

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practical Tips for National Health Ministries

1. Leverage Existing Platforms – Integrate mpox data streams into the already‑operational e‑Health Africa system to avoid duplication.
2. Prioritize High‑Risk Populations – Focus vaccination on MSM communities, healthcare workers, and forest‑adjacent residents.
3. Engage Local Media Early – Pre‑empt misinformation by issuing press briefs before each immunization round.
4. Secure Funding – Tap into the African Development Bank’s Health Innovation Fund for lab upgrades and cold‑chain expansion.
5. Monitor KPIs Weekly – Track case detection time, vaccination coverage, and stockout incidents to adjust tactics rapidly.

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Real‑World Example: Nigeria’s Mpox Response Success

• 2024–2025: Nigeria’s ministry of Health launched the “Mpox Zero” program,delivering 3.4 million vaccine doses to the three moast affected states.
• Outcome: Confirmed cases fell from 2,688 in December 2024 to 104 by July 2025 – a 96 % reduction.
• Key Drivers:
• Community health volunteers conducting door‑to‑door risk assessments.
• Use of mobile labs for same‑day PCR results.
• collaboration with Nigeria’s Center for Disease Control (NCDC) and West African Health Organization for cross‑border case sharing.

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Lessons from Davos 2025: Aligning Mpox Elimination with Broader African Priorities

• digital Change: Davos leaders emphasized closing the digital divide, a goal now realized through the e‑Mpox Dashboard’s mobile accessibility.
• Youth Empowerment: Engaging African youth in health‑messaging campaigns mirrors the continent’s push for a demographic dividend, fostering a generation that champions disease‑free societies.
• Economic Integration: By eliminating mpox, African economies can capitalize on tourism recovery and regional trade corridors, directly contributing to the Agenda 2063 vision of a prosperous Africa.

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Monitoring & Evaluation Metrics

Metric	Target (2026‑2030)	Current (2026)
Confirmed Mpox cases per 100,000	≤ 0.5 by 2028	1.2
Vaccination coverage in high‑risk groups	≥ 95 % by 2027	78 %
Laboratory turnaround time (hrs)	≤ 48 h by 2027	72 h
cross‑border incident reports	≤ 2 per year by 2029	7
Community awareness score (survey)	≥ 85 % correct knowledge by 2028	61 %

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Key Takeaway: africa CDC’s decision to end the Mpox health emergency marks a pivotal shift from crisis mode to a data‑driven, sustainable elimination framework. By embedding surveillance, vaccination, and community engagement into everyday health operations, the continent is poised to achieve lasting Mpox freedom while strengthening overall health security.