The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has announced the lifting of the continent-wide public health emergency related to the mpox (monkeypox) outbreak that had affected several African countries.
In a statement cited by African news outlet All Africa, the agency said the decision was taken following recommendations from its Emergency Advisory Group.
The move reflects strengthened health security across the continent, effective leadership, enhanced regional cooperation, and the success of international partnerships in addressing complex public health challenges.
The African Union’s health agency had initially declared the mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security in August 2024.
The World Health Organization later classified the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
According to Africa CDC, coordinated response efforts have produced tangible results. Between peak transmission periods at the beginning and end of 2025, suspected mpox cases declined by 40 percent, while confirmed cases dropped by 60 percent.
The case fatality rate among suspected cases also fell sharply, from 2.6 percent to 0.6 percent, highlighting improvements in disease detection, clinical care, coordination, and accountability at all levels.
Despite the positive progress, Africa CDC cautioned that lifting the emergency status does not mean mpox has been eliminated from the continent.
Instead, the decision marks a transition from an emergency response to a long-term, country-led strategy aimed at eliminating the disease.
The agency noted that mpox remains endemic in several regions and stressed that sustained vigilance, targeted investment, and innovation will be critical to consolidating recent gains and preventing a resurgence of the outbreak.
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