The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) says Africa is seeing big increases in three dangerous diseases, namely cholera, mpox and Marburg, and it is warning governments and people to act fast.
Africa CDC and news reports say about 300,000 suspected and confirmed cholera cases and more than 7,000 deaths have been recorded so far in 2025. This is the worst outbreak on the continent in about 25 years.
Most cases are in the Congo, Angola, Sudan, South Sudan and Nigeria. Poor water, bad sanitation and rainy-season flooding are helping the disease spread.
Also, the Mpox virus (monkeypox) has kept showing up in many countries. Africa CDC has kept mpox on its emergency watchlist and says some countries, including Ghana, Liberia, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo, have seen recent rises in cases. Health teams are working to find and vaccinate close contacts and protect health workers.
Meanwhile, Ethiopia confirmed a Marburg outbreak in the Jinka area in southern Ethiopia. At least nine cases were reported and Africa CDC and WHO are helping with tests, protective gear and isolation support because Marburg can cause severe illness.
Africa CDC says governments must boost clean water and toilets, expand testing and treatment, protect health workers, and speed up vaccines where they exist. The agency called for stronger disease tracking and more money for health systems so future outbreaks do not get out of hand.
