Malawi has confirmed four cases of Mpox in the districts of Lilongwe and Mangochi, according to an announcement made Thursday by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) during a high-level press briefing in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The update was delivered by Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, who called the situation a serious public health concern.
“Malawi reported its first cases on April 16,” Dr. Kaseya said, noting that the country now joins 24 other African nations that have reported Mpox infections since 2024.
The four cases involve male patients aged between 2 and 36. None of them had recently travelled to known Mpox outbreak zones, raising concerns about local transmission.
Three of the cases were found in the capital, Lilongwe, and one in the lakeside district of Mangochi. All patients are currently stable, and no deaths have been reported.
Health authorities have identified 34 close contacts, who are now being monitored. According to the Africa CDC, the virus in these cases has been identified as Clade Ib—a strain also circulating in countries like Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This variant is known for moderate transmission and has a broad presence across the region.
Dr. Kaseya stressed the importance of maintaining vigilance: “Continued efforts are needed to sustain the downward trend of Mpox cases in Africa. Malawi’s entry into the outbreak adds urgency to maintaining public health readiness.”
In response, Malawi’s Ministry of Health has activated its emergency outbreak response system. An incident manager has been appointed, and health teams have been deployed to manage cases, strengthen surveillance, and communicate risks to the public.
The ministry has also issued public advisories encouraging people to report symptoms such as fever, skin rashes, and swollen lymph nodes—key signs of Mpox infection.
Although over 600,000 people have been vaccinated against Mpox across Africa—mainly in Uganda and the DRC—Malawi has not yet received vaccine doses.
During the briefing, Africa CDC noted that vaccine shipments are being coordinated for new outbreak zones, and Malawi is being considered for future allocations.
“Ten countries have received vaccines, and seven are currently vaccinating,” Dr. Kaseya said, although he did not confirm when Malawi would receive its share.
Mpox, once largely limited to Central and West Africa, has spread more widely in recent years. While overall case numbers on the continent are declining week by week, experts warn that the emergence of cases in new areas means the threat is far from over.
Dr. Kaseya also confirmed that the Africa CDC’s Emergency Coordination Group (ECG) will meet on May 17 to decide whether to extend Mpox’s classification as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS).
In the meantime, Malawi is depending on testing, community-based surveillance, and public awareness campaigns. Health officials are working closely with local health workers to share accurate information, dispel myths, and help families identify symptoms early.
The message from authorities is clear: report symptoms early, maintain good hygiene, and support others instead of promoting stigma.
