The Democratic Republic of Congo has started its first vaccination campaign against mpox in the city of Goma, targeting health workers and those with pre-existing health conditions. The campaign, which began with hospital staff receiving the vaccine on Saturday, aims to address the outbreak that began last year in the east of the country. However, limited resources mean only 265,000 doses are available, with more expected from France, Japan, and the United States. The US has pledged to donate one million doses of the vaccine to African nations.
Since the start of 2024, the DRC has reported over 30,000 suspected and confirmed cases of mpox, with 900 deaths. The virus, which can be contracted through close contact with an infected person or animal, causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. A more infectious variant of the virus, named clade Ib, led the WHO to declare mpox a public health emergency in August. The virus has been detected in 16 African countries this year, prompting the WHO to approve a PCR test for detection by swabbing skin lesions. The WHO has pledged 4,500 tests for the DRC, although an arrival date has not been provided. The vaccine rollout has been described as an important step in limiting the virus’s spread and ensuring community safety.
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