Korede Abdullah 
LAGOS, Nigeria – Health authorities are raising alarms as Africa grapples with overlapping outbreaks of mpox, cholera, Ebola and Rift Valley fever, threatening fragile healthcare systems across the continent.
Africa CDC’s Deputy Incident Manager for mpox response, Yap Boum, said Kenya and Zambia have reported spikes in cases, while Senegal has confirmed local transmission for the first time. “No mpox deaths were reported last week, which is encouraging, but rising infections show the need for stronger surveillance,” Boum said.
Kenya’s clade 1b strain has moved from transport corridors into Nairobi, while Zambia has recorded increases across Copperbelt, Muchinga and Lusaka provinces. In Senegal, four related cases suggest human-to-human spread.
The country is also battling a Rift Valley fever outbreak, with 28 cases and eight deaths linked to livestock exposure.
Meanwhile, cholera continues to surge across multiple countries, with Africa expected to record more than 300,000 cases this year—triple the 2022 figure. Chad and Burundi report sharp rises, while Angola is facing a resurgence. Sudan remains the hardest hit, despite a 40% recent decline. Boum warned that “sustainable cholera control depends on addressing weak water infrastructure.”
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, cautious optimism surrounds the Ebola outbreak in Kasai Province, where no new cases have been reported in a week. Over 9,000 people have been vaccinated, and the monoclonal antibody therapy Ebanga is helping reduce the mortality rate to 35%.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised DRC’s response but appealed for $66.6 million to sustain operations.
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Koko Maxwella 
Chukwu Obinna 
Juliet Jacob