Vaccination Efforts Against Mpox Reach Over 50,000 in DR Congo and Rwanda
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of the WHO announced that over 50,000 people have been vaccinated against mpox in the DRC and Rwanda amidst an outbreak that has resulted in over 1,100 deaths across Africa. The African Union warns of a potentially more severe pandemic than Covid-19, prompting calls for further resources. Nearly 900,000 vaccine doses are being allocated to nine countries as part of a broader vaccination strategy.
On Friday, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reported that over 50,000 individuals have been vaccinated against mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. This vaccination initiative comes in response to a devastating outbreak, which has claimed more than 1,100 lives across the African continent, with DRC being the epicenter of the crisis. According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), approximately 48,000 cases of mpox have been documented since January. Dr. Ghebreyesus emphasized that the outbreak remains uncontained, with the African Union’s health monitoring body issuing a warning regarding the potential for a pandemic that could surpass the severity of Covid-19. The WHO’s chief expressed gratitude towards the contributions from the United States and the European Commission, which made the vaccination effort possible. He indicated that nearly 900,000 vaccine doses would be allocated this week to nine countries as part of the WHO’s Access and Allocation Mechanism (AAM). This allocation marks the beginning of the distribution of an anticipated six million vaccine doses that are expected to be available by the end of 2024. Mpox is a viral disease transmitted to humans primarily through infected animals, and it can also spread through close physical contact between individuals. The symptoms include fever, body aches, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash that evolves into blisters, and it is related to smallpox.
Mpox is caused by the mpox virus, which is linked to the variola virus that causes smallpox. The disease presents a significant health risk, particularly in regions where outbreaks have occurred. Since the beginning of 2023, Africa has faced a severe surge in mpox cases, with thousands affected and a troubling death toll. The situation is particularly dire in the DRC, which has seen the majority of deaths and has initiated a vaccination campaign to curtail the spread of the disease. The WHO and other health organizations are actively involved in managing this public health crisis through vaccine distribution and resource allocation to affected nations.
In conclusion, with over 50,000 vaccinations against mpox administered in the DRC and Rwanda, the international community is beginning to mobilize resources in response to a grave health crisis. The ongoing outbreak has resulted in numerous fatalities, and health authorities emphasize the urgency of interventions to prevent a more severe pandemic than previously seen with Covid-19. Through coordinated efforts and strategic vaccine allocations, it is hoped that the spread of mpox can be controlled effectively.
Original Source: www.france24.com
