DR Congo Begins Fight Against Deadly Mpox Outbreak with First Vaccine Shipment
Kinshasa – The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), at the heart of a severe mpox outbreak, received its first batch of nearly 100,000 vaccine doses on Thursday. This shipment is part of a 200,000-dose donation from the European Union aimed at curbing the spread of the virus. More than 19,000 cases and 650 deaths have been reported in the DRC this year.
Rising Mpox Cases Across Africa
Mpox, a virus spread through close physical contact, has now reached 13 African countries, with the DRC being the worst affected. Other nations like Burundi, Congo-Brazzaville, and the Central African Republic are also facing rising cases. The World Health Organization declared an international emergency last month as the outbreak continues to spread.
Vaccination Campaign to Begin in October
Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba and EU Health Emergency official Laurent Muschel were present when the vaccines arrived in Kinshasa. The vaccination campaign is expected to start by October, but logistical challenges remain. The vaccine, which must be stored at -20°C, will be difficult to distribute across a country with poor infrastructure.
Africa’s Largest Mpox Outbreak
Sixty-two percent of mpox cases in the DRC have been recorded in children, who also account for the majority of the deaths. The EU and Japan have pledged to supply more doses in the coming weeks as international efforts ramp up to contain the outbreak.
With DRC leading the global fight against mpox, swift vaccine distribution is crucial to prevent further spread.
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