Health News: DRC Initiates First MPOX Vaccination Campaign to Combat Outbreak

The Democratic Republic of Congo has started its first vaccination campaign against mpox in the city of Goma, targeting health workers and those with existing health issues. The campaign is limited due to a shortage of resources, with only 265,000 doses available. More doses are expected to arrive from France, Japan, and the United States. The World Health Organization has declared mpox a public health emergency after a new, more infectious variant was discovered. The virus has spread to 16 African countries this year, with the DRC reporting over 30,000 cases and 900 deaths since 2024. The vaccine rollout is seen as an important step in limiting the spread of the virus. The WHO has also approved a PCR test to detect mpox by swabbing skin lesions. Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba said the WHO has pledged 4,500 tests for the DRC, although no arrival date has been provided. The United States has pledged to donate one million doses of the mpox vaccine to African nations. This vaccination campaign is crucial in protecting families and communities from the virus.

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