Mpox Outbreak in the East Africa Region: Current Status, Containment Measures, Challenges, and Future Direction

ABSTRACT In 2024, the World Health Organization declared Mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The epicenter of this outbreak was the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which is a member of the East African Community (EAC). The majority of EAC countries reported Mpox cases and associated deaths. Mpox outbreak negatively affected EAC member states but triggered the strengthening of diagnostic and surveillance capacity. This review assessed the status, containment measures, challenges, and future directions of Mpox in the EAC. As of July 27, 2025, the DRC was the top country in the world with Mpox with 28,165 cases and 69 deaths, followed by Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and South Sudan with 7648 cases and 48 deaths, 4231 cases and one death, 281 cases and five deaths, 124 cases, 111 cases, and 17 cases, respectively. Rwanda, Tanzania, and South Sudan have not recorded any death associated with Mpox. The DRC, Uganda, and Burundi experienced extensive transmission rates, whereas Kenya and Uganda had higher case fatality rates of 1.78 and 0.63, respectively. Containment measures in EAC countries included enhanced surveillance, public awareness campaigns, training on infection prevention and control, and vaccination. Of the 801,000 Modified Vaccinia Ankara‐Bavarian Nordic (MVA‐BN) vaccine doses administered, over 73% were administered in the DRC. Challenges, including inadequate healthcare infrastructure and misinformation, affected Mpox control measures. This study underlines the need for a joint regional strategy to strengthen outbreak preparedness and ensure equitable access to resources to build resilience against emerging infectious diseases.