The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has classified the ongoing mpox outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security, a designation echoed by the World Health Organization.

Since the beginning of 2024, Africa has recorded a staggering 111,291 mpox cases, including 25,902 confirmed cases, with the death toll rising to 1,724.

In just the past week, the continent reported 3,323 new mpox cases, which included 925 confirmed cases and 24 new deaths.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has emerged as the epicenter of this outbreak, reporting 2,451 cases in the last week alone, comprising 312 confirmed cases and three fatalities.

The ongoing humanitarian crisis in the DRC is severely disrupting laboratory services, which hampers testing and reporting efforts related to the mpox outbreak.

The Africa CDC has pointed out the significant challenges posed by the conflict-affected areas in the DRC, where clashes between the DRC army and March 23 Movement rebels have intensified.

Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is transmitted through body fluids, respiratory droplets, and contaminated materials, and was first identified in laboratory monkeys in 1958.

Symptoms of mpox include fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes, which can complicate the identification and management of the disease.