ADDIS ABABA, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Africa has recorded more than 4,200 deaths due to ongoing cholera and mpox outbreaks in different parts of the continent in 2025, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has said.
During an online media briefing on Thursday night, Yap Boum II, deputy incident manager for mpox at the Africa CDC, said cholera and mpox constitute the top disease outbreaks so far in 2025, causing 4,275 deaths since the start of this year.
Data from the African Union's specialized healthcare agency showed that since the start of this year, some 21 African countries have recorded 176,136 suspected cholera cases, and 3,697 related deaths.
Inadequate clean and safe water was identified as the primary driver of recurring cholera outbreaks in Africa, which is further exacerbated by strained health systems as the continent grapples with a number of disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.
According to the Africa CDC, some 23 African countries have also recorded 79,024 mpox cases and 578 related deaths since the start of 2025.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, was first detected in laboratory monkeys in 1958.
In August last year, the Africa CDC declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of continental security. Shortly afterward, the World Health Organization designated the viral disease as a public health emergency of international concern. ■