The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has received its first batch of mpox vaccines in response to an outbreak that has led the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a global public health emergency. The country, with a population of approximately 100 million people, is at the epicentre of the outbreak, with both clade 1b and clade 1a strains of the virus present. The arrival of the vaccines, donated by the European Union, is seen as a critical step in containing the virus and protecting adults in DR Congo.
Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba Mulamba announced plans to quickly distribute the vaccines to heavily affected provinces such as Equateur and South Kivu in an effort to stop the spread of the virus. The vaccines come from the Danish pharmaceutical laboratory Bavarian Nordic and are currently only approved for adult use, with trials underway for potential use on children over the age of 12. The first delivery consists of 99,000 doses, with an additional 200,000 doses expected in a second delivery, as part of a larger effort by Europe to provide 566,000 doses to areas most in need in the region.
The DRC has reported over 17,500 mpox cases and 629 deaths since the beginning of the year, prompting urgent action to contain the outbreak. Plans are in place to begin the first wave of vaccinations on October 8, pending the successful delivery of the vaccines this week. However, the country faces significant logistical challenges due to its vast territory, poor infrastructure, and the specific storage requirements of the Danish vaccine, which must be kept in freezer conditions at minus 20°C. Additionally, mpox has spread to at least 13 African countries, with Guinea reporting its first confirmed case and other nations pledging to send vaccine doses to affected areas.
The outbreak of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, was first discovered in 1958 in Denmark in research monkeys, later being transmitted to humans in 1970. The virus is primarily transmitted to humans from infected animals but can also spread through close physical contact between individuals. Symptoms of the disease include fever, muscle aches, and skin lesions filled with pus resembling boils. The WHO declared a global emergency in August due to a surge in cases of the new clade 1b strain of the virus, necessitating swift action to contain its spread and protect populations at risk.
Efforts to combat the mpox outbreak in the DRC and other affected countries highlight the importance of international cooperation and solidarity in responding to public health threats. The decisive action taken by the European Union to donate vaccines to the DRC underscores the need for collective efforts to address global health challenges. With continued support and collaboration among nations and health organizations, there is hope to contain the mpox outbreak, protect vulnerable populations, and prevent further spread of the virus.
