The World Health Organization (WHO) says Africa accounted for about 75% of confirmed mpox cases reported globally in July, as the public health risk from the ongoing multi-country outbreak remains moderate.
The WHO disclosed this in its 69th situation report on Monday, which assessed the global epidemiological situation and reported continued transmission of mpox across several regions.
Mpox is a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus and is mainly contracted through close physical contact with an infected person, contaminated materials or infected animals.
WHO said 32 countries across four regions reported 1,370 confirmed mpox cases and seven deaths in July, putting the global case fatality ratio at 0.5%.
It said 11 African countries recorded active transmission between July 6 and August 16, accounting for 1,153 confirmed cases and all seven deaths reported in the region during the period.
According to WHO, confirmed mpox cases in Africa increased in July compared with June, while the Americas, Western Pacific, European and South-East Asia regions recorded declines.
WHO said transmission continued to affect key populations largely through sexual transmission, followed by household spread and community outbreaks.
It added that all clades of the monkeypox virus continued to circulate, highlighting the need for sustained surveillance and coordinated response efforts.
WHO declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on August 14, 2024, following a surge in cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the spread of a new clade to neighbouring African countries. It was the second such declaration in two years.
In April 2025, Africa CDC and WHO said more than $220 million was required to sustain and scale up the continent’s response, as transmission continued within and beyond Africa.
A global initiative to establish an mpox vaccine stockpile was launched on August 27 to create a long-term mechanism for ensuring countries can access vaccines during outbreaks.
The development also comes amid another major disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the ongoing Bundibugyo virus outbreak has become the largest Ebola outbreak ever reported in the country.
As of September 7, the DRC had reported 6,757 confirmed Ebola cases and 3,267 deaths, according to the latest WHO update.
