Mpox Death Toll Exceeds 1,800 in Africa Amid Rising Health Emergencies
The ongoing outbreak of mpox across the African continent has reached a grim milestone, with reported deaths surpassing 1,800. The alarming statistics come as the total number of mpox cases nears 150,000 since the start of 2024, according to the latest data released by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
During a recent online media briefing held on Thursday evening, Ngashi Ngongo, who serves as the chief of staff and head of the Executive Office at the Africa CDC, provided a detailed update on the situation. He confirmed that 26 African countries have collectively reported 148,308 mpox cases since the beginning of the last year. Out of this total, 40,674 cases have been confirmed, resulting in a concerning 1,816 recorded deaths attributed to the disease.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Ngongo noted that just last week, the continent reported 2,715 new mpox cases, which included 822 confirmed cases and 20 additional deaths. Of particular concern is the situation in Sierra Leone, which has recently seen a rapid increase in mpox cases. Ngongo pointed out that the West African nation accounted for a staggering 40 percent of all confirmed cases across Africa during the previous week, raising alarms about the potential for further spread.
In addition to the mpox outbreak, the Africa CDC is sounding the alarm regarding the increasing frequency of public health emergencies affecting the continent. Ngongo reported that so far in 2025, there have been approximately 132 public health events classified as moderate-to-high risk. This figure stands in stark contrast to the total of 219 such events recorded in the entire previous year, indicating that Africa is on track to exceed last year's numbers and highlighting an unsettling trend of rising public health challenges.
Furthermore, the Africa CDC issued data indicating that cholera remains a critical public health issue, with 22 African countries reporting a total of 157,974 cholera cases since the beginning of the year. This includes 5,998 confirmed cases and over 3,273 associated deaths. Cholera is now recognized as one of the leading health concerns on the continent, alongside mpox, measles, dengue, and Lassa fever, which are among the top five disease outbreaks reported by African Union member states thus far this year.
