Congo is set to receive the first vaccine doses to combat its mpox outbreak next week, with support from the United States. This development comes shortly after the World Health Organization declared mpox outbreaks in Africa a global emergency.
Reports indicate that mpox cases have been identified in more than a dozen African countries, affecting both children and adults. A new strain of the virus is also spreading, with limited vaccine availability across the continent.
With the vast majority of mpox cases, Congo is in urgent need of 3 million vaccine doses. The U.S. and Japan have stepped up to donate vaccines to the country, with the exact quantities and arrival dates yet to be disclosed.
According to the WHO, there have been over 17,000 mpox cases and 500+ deaths globally this year, with over 96% of these cases occurring in Congo. The country's health system has been under strain due to the challenges of containing outbreaks in its vast territory and poor infrastructure.
Children under 15 account for more than 70% of mpox cases and 85% of deaths in Congo. Of particular concern is a new variant of mpox in the country that may be more transmissible. Last week, Sweden reported its first case of this new strain, though the risk to the public is deemed low.
Unlike previous outbreaks, the new form of mpox presents with milder symptoms and lesions on the genitals, making it harder to detect. Mpox is not airborne and typically spreads through close skin-to-skin contact.
The WHO has also identified mpox for the first time in four East African countries - Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda - all linked to the epidemic in Congo.
