Africa is set to receive its first batch of mpox vaccines this week, following a delay in their availability on the continent compared to other parts of the world, as reported by The Guardian.
The 10,000 doses, donated by the United States, are intended to combat a dangerous new variant of the virus, previously known as monkeypox, which sparked global concern after an outbreak in 2022.
Last week, medical experts and scientists expressed concern over the delayed distribution of anti-mpox vaccines to Africa, highlighting significant issues in how international agencies manage global health crises.
Mpox, a potentially fatal disease that causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions, is transmitted through close physical contact. The World Health Organization declared it a global health emergency on August 14, after the new variant, clade Ib, began spreading from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to neighboring African countries.
