In August 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern as cases spread from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to neighboring countries.

In response to the ongoing outbreaks, the Africa CDC and WHO have revised their Continental Response Plan to enhance vaccination efforts and address the crisis more effectively.

The updated plan focuses on ten pillars, including surveillance, community engagement, and vaccination, aiming to integrate mpox management into routine health services.

To date, over 650,000 doses of mpox vaccine have been administered across six countries, with more than one million doses delivered overall.

Historically zoonotic, mpox has increasingly shown human-to-human transmission, particularly with the emergence of clade IIb in 2022 and clade Ib in late 2023.

As of 2025, 28 countries have reported mpox cases linked to clade Ib, with local transmission documented in several African nations, including South Africa and Uganda.

In the first two months of 2025, 60 countries reported mpox cases, primarily from Africa, highlighting the urgent need for continued collaborative efforts to combat the outbreak.

The DRC has significantly expanded its diagnostic testing capabilities, increasing from two laboratories in late 2023 to 23 laboratories across twelve provinces.

Despite these efforts, challenges persist due to ongoing conflict in eastern DRC and funding shortages, with an estimated US$ 220 million needed to support the mpox response.

Since the emergency declaration, support for the DRC, the outbreak's epicenter, has increased, guided by the Africa CDC and WHO's Joint Continental Mpox Plan.

Mpox is a viral illness characterized by painful lesions, fever, and swollen lymph nodes, primarily spreading through close contact.

The plan aims for intensified outbreak control while aligning with WHO's global strategy to halt human-to-human transmission.