Korede Abdullah in Lagos
More than 600 people infected with mpox fled treatment centers in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to fighting in the eastern part of the country, according to the African Centers for Disease Control, Africa CDC.
Although over 150 individuals returned to the eastern city of Bukavu following a relative improvement in security, hundreds more remain unaccounted for. The country is at the epicenter of the latest disease outbreak in the region, declared a “public health emergency of international concern” by the Africa CDC in 2024.
Head of the Incident Management Team in the DR Congo, Ngashi Ngongo noted a decline in confirmed cases, attributing it to insecurity leading to “low testing.” However, he praised the country’s progress on vaccination, with over 300,000 Congolese vaccinated in the Kinshasa area.
Ngongo also reported a significant drop in mpox infections among healthcare workers by more than 50%, due to increased training and new prevention mechanisms.
The Africa CDC reported over 24,000 mpox cases continent-wide in 2025, with about 6,000 confirmed cases. Angola reported two new cases after an eight-week lull, and 15 of the 22 affected countries still have active cases.
The Africa CDC expressed concern over new Ebola cases in Uganda and Marburg cases in Tanzania, highlighting the need for continued vigilance and response efforts.
