Stopping the Spread of Mpox in Africa: WHO Aims to Deliver Vaccines to Congo
The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has expressed optimism that the ongoing mpox outbreaks in Africa could be brought under control within the next six months. In a recent statement, he announced that the WHO’s first shipment of vaccines is set to arrive in Congo within days.
Despite the urgent need for vaccines to slow down the spread of the virus, Africa has received only a small percentage of the required doses, with Congo being the most severely affected country, reporting more than 18,000 suspected cases and 629 deaths.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the importance of government leadership and collaboration among partners to effectively combat the outbreaks. He stated, “With the governments’ leadership and close cooperation between partners, we believe we can stop these outbreaks in the next six months.”
Although the number of mpox infections has been rising rapidly in recent weeks, the mortality rate has remained relatively low. Tedros highlighted that there have been 258 cases of the latest strain of mpox identified in several countries including Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Sweden, and Thailand.
Earlier this month, the WHO declared the mpox outbreaks in Africa a global emergency to encourage a more robust global response to the disease, especially in Nigeria where cases have been spreading unnoticed for years. Scientists have also discovered a new version of the disease in Congo, suggesting increased transmission capabilities.
Despite the challenges, WHO is working to expedite the delivery of vaccines to affected countries and conducting education campaigns to raise awareness about preventive measures. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s epidemic and pandemic diseases department director, emphasized the need for swift action given the limited vaccine supply.
As efforts continue to secure additional vaccines, Africa’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that the continent will receive approximately 380,000 doses promised by donors, including the U.S. and the European Union. However, this falls short of the required doses to bring an end to the mpox outbreaks in Congo.
It is crucial for authorities to enhance their understanding of how mpox is spreading in Africa to effectively utilize the available vaccines and prevent further transmission of the disease.
