Jean Kaseya, director-general of Africa CDC spoke of a “new era” in health financing after US aid cuts that have left health systems in Africa in disarray
Aid cuts by the United States are hurting Africa’s capacity to respond to disease outbreaks, the head of the continent’s public health agency said Thursday, ahead of a meeting with regional health ministers to discuss other financing options.
Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or Africa CDC, told reporters that Friday’s meeting with African health ministers will “discuss recent developments in global health financing” and where more sustainable funding might come from.
Kaseya spoke of a “new era” in health financing after U.S. aid cuts that have left health systems in Africa in disarray. The aid cuts, which affect governments and their partners in the non-governmental sector, have shut down or disrupted projects tackling diseases ranging from malaria to AIDS.
Much of the funding to the Africa CDC and regional governments was lost with the Trump administration’s decision to terminate most foreign aid contracts and cut $60 billion in overall U.S. assistance abroad. Many of the affected programs are in fragile countries that are highly reliant on U.S. aid to support health systems, nutrition programs and stave off starvation.
Kaseya cited the immediate impact in Congo, which is the epicenter mpox outbreaks in Africa and where aid cuts and insecurity in the country’s east have contributed to challenges in testing for the disease as well as securing enough vaccine doses. Aid cuts have impeded the collection and transportation of samples in Congo, Kaseya said.
“We know this aid cut is a difficult moment for our countries, and it came overnight,” he said. “Some of them were not prepared for this major aid cut.”
The U.S. aid cuts affecting the response to outbreaks of mpox, Ebola and other diseases are the latest in a trend of declining monetary support by international partners over the years, he warned.
“We are not just talking about the U.S.,” he said. “We are saying almost all Western countries are decreasing their support. And that one is a critical issue for our health security.” Kaseya said the Africa CDC and the World Bank are discussing possible “transitional” funding in the aftermath of U.S. aid cuts.
Mpox deaths reach 260 in Africa
The death toll from Africa’s ongoing mpox outbreak has reached 260 since 2025, with total cases surpassing 24,200, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
During an online media briefing on Thursday evening, Ngashi Ngongo, chief of staff and head of the Executive Office at Africa CDC, said that the African continent has reported 24,272 mpox cases since the start of the year. Of these, 6,034 were confirmed and about 260 related deaths were recorded.
Data from the African Union’s specialised healthcare agency show that in the past week alone, 11 African countries reported 2,610 new cases, including 664 confirmed ones and 45 new related deaths.
Ngongo said that among the 22 African countries affected by the ongoing mpox outbreak, 15 countries are currently experiencing active transmission of the virus, while seven countries are in a controlled phase.
Meanwhile, the Africa CDC has expressed concern about the challenges in addressing the mpox outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where clashes have intensified between the DRC army and the March 23 Movement rebels in recent weeks, Xinhua news agency reported.
According to Africa CDC, the DRC, currently the epicentre of the mpox outbreak in Africa, reported 1,918 cases in the past week, including 202 confirmed cases and 44 new related fatalities.
Ngongo highlighted the ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict, with more than two million people displaced, both internally and across borders. He warned that the situation is severely hindering efforts to contain the mpox outbreak.
He said that the conflict has disrupted laboratory services, hampered testing and reporting efforts, and that at least 605 active mpox patients have fled treatment centers in conflict-affected regions. The Africa CDC also indicated that transporting samples has become increasingly challenging due to the humanitarian crisis.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, was first detected in laboratory monkeys in 1958. It is a rare viral disease typically transmitted through body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials. The infection often causes fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.
Last week, the Africa CDC announced that the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa remains classified as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security. The continental healthcare agency initially declared the mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security in mid-August last year. Shortly afterward, the World Health Organization also designated the viral disease as a public health emergency of international concern.
