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‎However, the agency has raised concerns over new outbreaks in Gambia, Cameroon, and Mozambique, calling for sustained vigilance.

‎Speaking during the agency’s weekly webinar briefing on Friday, Africa CDC Director-General Dr Jean Kaseya credited the progress to stronger national leadership, enhanced community engagement, and improved health systems, supported by Africa CDC and its partners.

‎He noted that more than 3.1 million mpox vaccine doses had been distributed across 12 African countries, with more than 886,000 people vaccinated so far.

‎He said the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) alone accounted for 69 per cent of those vaccinated.

‎In spite of the positive trend, Kaseya warned of emerging risks, particularly the detection of multiple mpox clades, including the high-risk Clade IIb, in Kinshasa.

‎He emphasised the need for intensified surveillance and targeted vaccination campaigns, especially among vulnerable populations.

‎On cholera, Kaseya said that outbreaks had now spread to 23 African Union member states, with new cases confirmed in Chad and the Republic of Congo.

‎He said the DRC and South Sudan remained the most affected, although there was a slow decline in both cases and deaths.

‎Kaseya identified poor water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure as a key driver of the disease and called for coordinated, multisectoral action to curb its spread.

‎He said Africa CDC, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other partners, was expanding its Incident Management Support Team’s role to include cholera response efforts.

‎According to him, this expanded initiative will operate under the leadership of the Zambian presidency.

‎Kaseya urged member states to bolster community-led surveillance, prioritise vaccinations in high-risk areas, and enhance integrated case management, particularly for patients with comorbid conditions.

‎The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that cholera is a bacterial infection spread through contaminated food and water, especially in areas with poor sanitation.

‎It can be fatal if not treated quickly but is preventable through access to clean water, good hygiene practices, and oral vaccines.

‎Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease resembling smallpox, causing fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.

‎It spreads through close physical contact and contaminated materials but can be prevented through early detection, vaccination, and hygiene measures. (NAN)

‎BY DAMILOLA ADELEKE | AUGUST 8, 2025