African nations are gearing up to start vaccinations against mpox within days, as confirmed by the continent's top public health agency. The World Health Organization (WHO) has assured that the spread of a deadlier strain of the virus can be controlled and emphasized that it is not the new Covid.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is currently at the epicenter of an mpox outbreak that was declared a global health emergency by WHO. The deadlier clade Ib strain of the virus has been rapidly spreading in the country and has also been detected in at least four other African nations.
The Africa CDC Director General, Jean Kaseya, mentioned that vaccinations are set to commence in a few days once all necessary preparations are in place. The arrival of vaccines in the DRC and other affected countries is expected by the end of next week.
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a viral disease that can easily spread between individuals and from infected animals through close contact or contaminated materials. Symptoms include fever, rash, headache, muscle pain, and enlarged lymph nodes.
Recent reports indicate around 1,400 mpox infections in Africa over the past week, bringing the total number of cases on the continent to nearly 19,000 since the beginning of the year. The outbreak has resulted in over 500 deaths, highlighting the urgent need for vaccines.
Health officials in Africa are working with international partners to address the significant shortfall of vaccine doses. The European Union, Danish vaccine maker Bavarian Nordic, Japan, and the United States have pledged support to combat the outbreak.
WHO's declaration of a global health emergency marks the second time in two years that the agency has raised concerns about the spread of mpox. The current outbreak is primarily driven by the more severe clade I strain, particularly the subtype clade Ib.
While the first clade Ib case outside Africa was confirmed in Sweden, WHO officials have reassured that mpox is not the new Covid. Efforts are underway to control the spread of the virus and ensure a coordinated response to the outbreak.
As nations worldwide remain vigilant, WHO emphasizes the importance of a united effort to tackle mpox across regions and continents. The need for a coordinated response is particularly crucial in the African region, where the outbreak is most prevalent.
Recent developments, such as the quarantine of a cargo ship in Argentina and reported cases in travelers to Africa from the Philippines and Thailand, underscore the global impact of the mpox outbreak.
