ADDIS ABABA, Sept 7– The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said on Thursday that it would continue to classify Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security, even as the World Health Organization (WHO) downgraded the disease’s status as an international emergency.
At a meeting held on Sept. 2, Africa CDC’s Emergency Consultative Group reviewed the Mpox situation and recommended against lifting the continental emergency, citing the need to preserve political will, ensure sustained resource mobilisation, and maintain national vigilance. 
The group recognized a 52% decline in weekly confirmed cases between weeks 17–22 and weeks 27–32 of 2025. However, it reported renewed surges in countries such as Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Zambia, and Tanzania, alongside fresh introductions of the virus in Malawi, Ethiopia, Senegal, Togo, The Gambia, and Mozambique. 
Several countries — including Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Zambia, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Cameroon, and the Central African Republic — continue to register Mpox case fatality rates above 1%, although the continental average stands at 0.5%. 
Africa CDC emphasized that maintaining the emergency declaration was critical to avoid complacency, reduce the risk of funding shortfalls, and prevent a potential resurgence of the virus. 
By Joe Turay
