Africa bears a significant burden of infectious diseases, which remain a leading cause of illness and death across the continent. Among the most prevalent are tuberculosis (TB), Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS), cholera, malaria, and schistosomiasis (bilharzia).
The prevalence of infectious diseases refers to the total number or proportion of individuals in a population infected with a specific disease at a given time or over a defined period.
Understanding this prevalence is crucial for public health planning—it guides resource allocation, shapes control strategies, and supports disease surveillance to monitor trends, transmission patterns, and inform epidemiological research.
Infectious diseases are disorders caused by pathogens such as protozoa, bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Being communicable, they can spread from person to person through various modes of transmission—direct contact (schistosomiasis), airborne spread (COVID-19), vector-borne pathways (malaria), contaminated food or water (cholera), and sexual contact (HIV/AIDS).
Symptoms can range from mild to severe, and diseases may be acute or chronic.
The high prevalence of infectious diseases in Africa is linked to multiple factors, chief among them poverty.
Many African countries have limited economic resources and poor living conditions, heightening infection risks.
For example, in Nigeria, tuberculosis treatment costs can consume 9–38% of a patient’s annual income.
In 2021, Malawi recorded 219.2 malaria infections per 1,000 people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Across the continent, millions survive on less than $2.15 a day, with Burundi topping the list of Africa’s poorest countries—65% of its population lives in poverty, and one in three people requires humanitarian aid.
Overpopulation also fuels disease spread.
It strains already fragile healthcare systems, hindering outbreak responses.
Nigeria’s surge in monkeypox cases highlighted the need for stronger surveillance and laboratory capacity.
Similarly, Ebola outbreaks in West Africa demonstrated the deadly potential of zoonotic diseases, those transmitted between animals and humans—such as leptospirosis and salmonellosis.
These pathogens can mutate to increase virulence or transmissibility, and overpopulation, urbanisation, and encroachment on wildlife habitats amplify the risk.
Limited access to water and sanitation is another critical driver.
In Mozambique, nearly 60% of the population lacks clean water, a problem worsened by frequent cyclones and droughts.
Infrastructure gaps and low investment slow progress.
While Papua New Guinea is outside Africa, it illustrates similar challenges, with only 40% of its population having safe water and 18% adequate sanitation due to difficult terrain and limited funding.
Malnutrition further weakens immune defences, increasing vulnerability to infections.
In Somalia, 5.6 million people face food insecurity, with 2.8 million unable to meet daily nutritional needs due to drought, floods, pest infestations, and conflict.
South Sudan’s civil war and historic flooding have left 7.1 million in severe hunger, 65% of the population is in crisis.
Malnutrition damages skin and mucous membranes, reduces white blood cell production, and creates easy pathways for pathogens.
Conflict and displacement exacerbate disease burdens.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has over 6 million internally displaced people, many living in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions.
In Nigeria, Boko Haram insurgency has displaced millions, sparking cholera and malaria outbreaks.
Governments and humanitarian agencies have acted to curb these threats.
Emergency water supplies via tanker trucks, temporary water tanks in displacement camps, handwashing stations, and hygiene education campaigns are being implemented in crisis zones.
Uganda has received WHO support to tackle cholera and measles outbreaks.
Nigeria is working with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and WHO to combat its largest recorded diphtheria outbreak—nearly 17,000 suspected cases.
In Zimbabwe, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) partners with the Ministry of Health and Child Care to strengthen the national HIV/AIDS response, while UNICEF supports cholera control, vaccination drives, and emergency healthcare.
Training community health workers is also helping to improve grassroots health outcomes.
Bridging the Gaps with Science and Technology
Despite these efforts, persistent gaps call for innovative approaches.
Cutting-edge diagnostic tools could enable faster, more accurate disease detection.
Biotechnology can drive the development of new vaccines, including mRNA-based platforms, which work by instructing cells to produce a harmless protein from a pathogen, triggering a protective immune response.
This approach, seen in Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines, has shown high efficacy in preventing severe illness.
Science also offers solutions to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.
Genomic surveillance can track disease outbreaks and detect emerging threats early.
Advances in vaccine delivery and stability could improve access in remote, resource-limited settings.
Data-driven public health policies, informed by research, will be essential for prioritising interventions.
The Path Forward
By combining scientific innovation with evidence-based public health strategies, Africa can make measurable progress in reducing the prevalence and impact of infectious diseases.
Addressing the root causes—poverty, inadequate infrastructure, malnutrition, overpopulation, and conflict—while leveraging biotechnology, surveillance, and rapid-response tools offers a path toward a healthier future for the continent.