The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) announced on 23 January 2026 the official end to mpox's status as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security. This decision follows a 40% reduction in suspected cases and 60% decline in confirmed infections between early and late 2025 transmission peaks.
First declared in August 2024 during a continental surge that saw over 80,000 suspected cases and 1,340 deaths, the emergency status enabled $1 billion in pooled funding for vaccine distribution and surveillance systems. The Democratic Republic of Congo bore the brunt of the outbreak, representing 96% of cases at its peak.
Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya emphasized this marks a transition rather than conclusion: "Our focus now shifts to sustaining vaccination campaigns and strengthening national health systems to prevent resurgence." Case fatality rates among suspected infections fell from 2.6% to 0.6% during the emergency period.
The agency's new transition plan prioritizes maintaining stockpiles of 5 million vaccine doses distributed across 16 countries while improving cross-border data sharing. Health experts cite this development as a milestone for Africa's growing leadership in managing complex health crises through regional cooperation.
