The DRC has launched its long-awaited mpox vaccination program after delays, aiming to prevent the spread of the virus. Explore the reasons for the delays and the ongoing health efforts.

Following a delay caused by logistical challenges, Congolese authorities have begun administering vaccinations against mpox in an effort to control the outbreak.

The EU and the US provided 265,000 doses to the DRC, which have been administered in Goma city and North Kivu province. These areas are experiencing strained healthcare resources due to a surge in mpox cases.

The nation, having reported approximately 30,000 cases, represents over 80% of the continent’s total cases and contributes to 99% of this year’s fatalities. This year alone, more than 850 deaths from the disease have been documented in the DRC.

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In August, the WHO announced that the increase in mpox cases in the DRC, which had spread to multiple countries, was considered a global health emergency.

Outside of the African continent, several cases have also been reported in countries such as Sweden and Pakistan.

Mpox, caused by a virus related to smallpox, was originally transmitted from animals to humans. It spreads between people through close contact with an infected individual.

The ongoing outbreak involves the spread of a new strain of the disease known as clade 1b, which is more severe than clade 2, responsible for prompting a public health emergency in 2022.