According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Africa), the total number of mpox cases in Africa has reached 29,152, which includes 6,105 confirmed cases and 738 deaths since the start of 2024.
During a special online press briefing on Thursday evening, CDC Africa Director General Jean Kaseya revealed that the continent recorded 2,912 new cases in just the past week, consisting of 374 confirmed cases and 14 fatalities. This brings the total reported cases for this year to 29,152.
Kaseya highlighted that cases have been documented in 15 African countries across all five regions of the continent. He pointed out that cross-border movements and malnutrition are significant risk factors associated with the spread of mpox.
By mid-August, CDC Africa declared the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa a public health emergency of continental security. Soon after, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified mpox as a public health emergency of international concern, activating its highest global alert level for mpox for the second time within two years.
In addition, CDC Africa recently announced the initiation of a joint continental response plan in collaboration with WHO. This six-month plan, running from September 2024 to February 2025, has an estimated budget of $600 million. Of this amount, 55% is earmarked for mpox response efforts in affected countries, while the remaining 45% will be allocated for operational and technical support through partner organizations.
