The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has expressed concern about several ongoing disease outbreaks on the continent, while unveiling new collaborations and financial backing to boost Africa’s health preparedness.
Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, spoke during the agency’s weekly media briefing in Addis Ababa.
He explained that the continent is carrying a heavy disease burden, with over 116,000 suspected cases of Mpox, 254,000 cholera infections, and more than 116,000 measles cases recorded between January and September 2025.
Other major outbreaks, he said, include dengue fever, Lassa fever, Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and a new Rift Valley Fever outbreak in Senegal.
“These outbreaks, according to Kaseya, continue to challenge Africa’s already fragile health systems,” he said.
To boost response capacity, Kaseya noted that Africa CDC signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with UNAIDS to expand Africa’s health workforce, enhance local manufacturing, and ensure sustainable HIV responses.
He added that the United Kingdom had also approved direct funding to the Africa CDC, marking an important milestone in its quest for financial autonomy and accountability.
On Ebola, he confirmed that Kasai province in the DRC has recorded 53 confirmed cases and 31 deaths, though vaccination campaigns have already reached more than 9,000 people, including frontline health workers.
Similarly, he said that Mpox remains the most widespread outbreak, with 26 countries affected this year, though cases have started to decline in some high-burden regions.
He also announced that 150,000 new vaccine doses would be distributed to Uganda, Kenya, and Liberia in the coming weeks.
Kaseya stressed that innovation—including the use of artificial intelligence in epidemic intelligence—combined with stronger international solidarity, is vital to preventing future pandemics.
He said Africa CDC is also implementing the Continental Cholera Plan 1.0, warning that Chad, DRC, and Angola face heightened risks of new outbreaks due to flooding, displacement, and poor sanitation.
He appealed to African governments and partners to intensify surveillance efforts, accelerate vaccination drives, and strengthen cross-border cooperation to contain the spread of epidemics and safeguard public health.