New weekly cases of mpox across Africa have dropped to around 2,000 for the first time this year giving hope that the outbreak may be waning, according to Dr Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

In the mpox epicentre of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), new cases dropped to 1,453 – the first time this year that this has been below 2,000 – despite an increase in testing. 

There has also been a decrease in confirmed cases in the DRC and a significant increase in contact tracing.

Mpox in health workers – a priority in the continental vaccination efforts – has almost halved since November when over 100 health workers were infected.

Seven countries are currently vaccinating against mpox, with over 595,000 people vaccinated so far.

However, mpox cases in Uganda continue to rise, with 271 cases confirmed over 247 the previous week.

China, Switzerland and the UK have all reported mpox cases in the past few weeks.

“I’m calling the emergency consultative group meeting on the 17 May. Our experts will analyse all data and all evidence, and they will tell us if we still need to continue with the public health emergency of continental security (PHECS) for mpox,” said Kaseya.

One human case of anthrax

One person has been identified with anthrax in Uganda. 

Meanwhile, in the eastern DRC – a hotspot for various disease outbreaks – anthrax has only been identified in animals, including hippos in Virunga Park in north Kivu.

Around 50 hippos as well as buffalo have died from the disease in the park, according to earlier reports from the park’s director, Emmanuel De Merode.

However, recent animal deaths in South Sudan and Uganda indicate the disease may have spread across the borders.

“We don’t have any evidence today that humans are affected, but will continue to follow what’s happening,” said Kaseya.

Anthrax is caused by bacteria in soil and animals can become infected when they inhale the spores in soil, plants or water.

Health financing

Over the past two weeks, Kaseya has been traveling internationally to try to drum up more funding for health on the continent to fill the huge hole left by departing aid – particularly from the United States.

The continent has lost 70% of its official development aid since 2023, down from $81 billion to $25 billion this year – and some countries are on the brink of running out of essential medicines including antiretroviral medicine to treat HIV.

“There are reports of people migrating to other countries just to get ARVs,” Kaseya disclosed.

He has met the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Mesfin Tasew to explore the possibility of a levy on airline tickets that could be used for health programmes.

In addition, a meeting with the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is likely to result in investment in local manufacturing, and the digital agenda, supply chain management and the health work force, Kaseya said.

“Emirates is one of the countries making huge progress in the health system by using AI, and we are moving toward a strong programme with this country for Africa,” he added, saying that details of this collaboration would be announced soon.