Democratic Republic of Congo: In a significant move to combat the ongoing mpox outbreak, Congolese health officials inaugurated their first vaccination campaign in Goma, a city in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The campaign took place at a local hospital, where health workers were prioritised to receive the initial vaccine doses.
The Health Ministry, however, cautioned that the campaign’s reach would be limited due to resource constraints. Currently, 265,000 vaccine doses are available, with more expected to arrive in the near future. This initiative aims to rectify the inequity that has seen African nations deprived of access to the two vaccines utilised in the global mpox outbreak of 2022, while these vaccines were readily available in Europe and the United States.
Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organisation’s Africa Director, emphasised the significance of the vaccine rollout, stating that, “This marks an important step in limiting the spread of the virus and ensuring the safety of families and communities.”
Mpox, which spreads through close contact, typically presents with mild symptoms but can be fatal in rare instances. Symptoms include flu-like indicators and pus-filled lesions. The WHO classified the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern in August after a new variant emerged.
Since the beginning of 2024, Congo has reported over 30,000 suspected and confirmed cases, accounting for 90 percent of Africa’s cases this year, with 990 deaths attributed to the virus.
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