The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Africa CDC, has raised fresh concerns over the growing wave of disease outbreaks across the continent, warning that the crises are stretching already fragile health systems.
At the same time, the agency announced a series of international partnerships and funding agreements designed to strengthen Africa’s preparedness and response capacity.
Speaking at a weekly press briefing in Addis Ababa, Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa CDC, described the situation as “deeply concerning.”
He noted that between January and September 2025, African countries recorded more than 116,000 suspected cases of Mpox, 254,000 cholera infections, and 116,000 measles cases.
These figures highlight the scale of the challenge, compounded by fresh outbreaks of dengue fever, Lassa fever, Rift Valley Fever in Senegal, and an Ebola resurgence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“These outbreaks continue to challenge Africa’s already fragile health systems,” Kaseya said, stressing the need for coordinated action.
To reinforce the response, the Africa CDC announced the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with UNAIDS.
The partnership will expand Africa’s health workforce, enhance local pharmaceutical manufacturing, and secure sustainable HIV responses.
Additionally, the United Kingdom has approved direct funding to the Africa CDC, a milestone Kaseya said would help the institution gain financial independence and improve accountability.
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On the Ebola situation, Kaseya confirmed that Kasai Province in the DRC has recorded 53 confirmed cases and 31 deaths.
However, he noted that vaccination campaigns have already reached more than 9,000 people, including frontline health workers, offering some relief.
Mpox, which remains the most widespread outbreak in 2025, has affected 26 African countries. Although case numbers are beginning to decline in some high-burden regions, Kaseya revealed that 150,000 new vaccine doses will be deployed to Uganda, Kenya, and Liberia in the coming weeks.
He emphasized the need for innovation, highlighting the use of artificial intelligence in epidemic intelligence to detect early warning signals and manage public health risks.
“Harnessing innovation is vital to strengthening Africa’s preparedness and protecting our people from future health threats. Together, with global solidarity, we can safeguard communities everywhere,” he said.
The Director-General also drew attention to the Continental Cholera Plan 1.0, which is being implemented to curb surging outbreaks in Chad, DRC, and Angola. He warned that flooding, population displacement, and poor sanitation could worsen the crisis unless urgent measures were taken.
Kaseya urged member states and development partners to scale up disease surveillance, accelerate vaccination drives, and strengthen cross-border coordination to contain the epidemics before they escalate further.
NAN
