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The Democratic Republic of Congo has taken a crucial step in combating the mpox outbreak by launching its first vaccination campaign in the eastern city of Goma. This move comes after the country reported over 30,000 suspected and confirmed cases of mpox, resulting in 900 deaths since the start of 2024.
Health workers and individuals with existing health issues will be the first to receive the vaccine. Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba emphasized that the limited 265,000 doses available will target priority groups, acknowledging that this quantity is insufficient for the country's 100 million population.
The vaccination drive faces significant challenges, particularly due to the limited vaccine supply. "As you can imagine, in a country of 100 million people, we're not going to solve the problem with 265,000 doses," Kamba noted.
However, more vaccine doses are expected from international partners, including France, Japan, and the United States. Last month, US President Joe Biden pledged one million doses of the mpox vaccine to African nations. The World Health Organization's Africa Director, Matshidiso Moeti, hailed the vaccine rollout as "an important step in limiting the spread of the virus and ensuring the safety of families and communities".
The mpox outbreak has become a growing concern, with the virus spreading through close contact with infected individuals or animals, causing flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. The World Health Organization declared mpox a public health emergency in August after discovering a new, more infectious variant, clade Ib. Mpox has been detected in 16 African countries this year, according to the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
To enhance diagnosis and tracking of the outbreak, the WHO has approved a PCR test to detect mpox by swabbing skin lesions. The DRC is set to receive 4,500 of these tests, although the arrival date has not been announced.
Ongoing conflicts, displacement, and food insecurity in regions like South Kivu province increase the risk of further spread, underscoring the need for continued international support and vigilance.
The vaccination campaign is a critical step toward controlling the outbreak, and the DRC's efforts are being closely monitored by global health authorities.