ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said on Friday that the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa remains classified as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS).
In a statement issued Friday, Africa CDC said its emergency group has reached a unanimous decision to extend the PHECS declaration after a thorough review of the outbreak. The review highlighted the rising number of mpox cases, its continued spread to new countries, the emergence of a highly transmissible variant, and persistent challenges in vaccine supply and distribution.
According to data from the African Union's specialized healthcare agency, since Africa CDC first declared the mpox outbreak a PHECS in August last year, cases have continued to surge across the continent.
The agency said the average weekly mpox cases have tripled from 909 in August 2024 to 3,264 in February 2025. Additionally, the outbreak has spread to nine more African countries since the initial declaration.
Africa CDC warned that the growing number of cases and affected countries underscores the need for sustained vigilance and intervention. The emergence of a highly transmissible variant has further escalated public health risks.
It also identified key challenges, including gaps in surveillance and testing, inadequate vaccination coverage, and under-reporting of cases. These challenges, it said, have been exacerbated by worsening security conditions in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, the epicenter of the current mpox outbreak.
As the continent battles the ongoing outbreak, Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya said the agency will intensify efforts to improve vaccine delivery strategies, strengthen surveillance, accelerate laboratory decentralization, enhance outbreak monitoring, and integrate mpox response efforts into broader public health initiatives.
Since the start of 2025, Africa has reported 21,544 mpox cases, including 5,364 confirmed infections and more than 233 deaths, according to the latest data from Africa CDC.
Meanwhile, Africa CDC said the rising number of disease outbreaks across the continent, including mpox, Ebola, Marburg, measles, cholera and other febrile illnesses, is placing immense strain on fragile health systems.
