The World Health Organization (WHO) aims to stop mpox outbreaks in Africa within the next six months, with the first vaccine shipments expected in Congo within days.
Africa, particularly Congo with over 18,000 suspected cases and 629 deaths, has so far received only a small portion of the vaccines needed to combat the virus.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed optimism at a press briefing, citing strong government leadership and collaboration with partners as key to ending the outbreaks. While mpox infections have risen sharply, there have been relatively few deaths. The new strain of mpox has been identified in several countries, including Burundi, Rwanda, and Kenya.
Earlier last month, WHO declared the mpox outbreaks in Africa a global emergency to prompt a stronger global response. A new variant of the virus, potentially more easily spread, was detected in Congo in May, raising concerns among health officials.
WHO estimates that about 230,000 vaccines could soon be sent to Congo and other affected areas. The organization is also launching educational campaigns to help people in outbreak regions understand how to avoid spreading the disease.
However, scientists warn that without better data on how mpox is spreading in Africa, it may be challenging to determine the most effective use of the vaccines. Africa’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hopes to receive 380,000 vaccine doses from donors, including the U.S. and the EU, though this falls short of the amount needed to end the outbreaks in Congo.
