Vaccination Efforts Against Mpox Surpass 50,000 in DRC and Rwanda
The WHO has reported that more than 50,000 people have been vaccinated against mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. The disease has resulted in over 1,100 deaths across Africa, with the DRC being the epicenter of the outbreak. International aid has been significant in facilitating vaccination efforts, and the situation requires ongoing monitoring to prevent a more severe pandemic than Covid-19.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that more than 50,000 individuals have received vaccinations against mpox, also previously referred to as monkeypox, across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. This announcement comes in the wake of severe health concerns, as mpox has claimed over 1,100 lives on the African continent, with approximately 48,000 cases documented since the onset of the year, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The DRC is regarded as the epicenter of this ongoing outbreak, and it is here that a vaccination campaign was initiated last month. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the importance of vaccination efforts, stating that these vaccinations were made possible through the generous contributions from the United States and the European Commission. Furthermore, he mentioned that nearly 900,000 doses of the vaccine have been allocated this week to nine countries under a distribution framework established by WHO and its affiliates. “This is the first allocation of almost six million vaccine doses that we expect to be available by the end of 2024,” he articulated, illustrating the concerted global effort to combat this viral outbreak. Mpox is a viral infection closely associated with smallpox, characterized by symptoms such as fever, body aches, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash that eventually develops into blisters. The African Union’s health authorities have expressed their concern regarding the potential severity of the mpox pandemic, urging for viable resources to prevent a crisis on the scale of Covid-19. Despite the efforts made, the situation remains critical, necessitating ongoing vigilance and response efforts to mitigate the spread of mpox.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease that has seen a resurgence in cases in Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is experiencing an outbreak. The World Health Organization and African health authorities are monitoring the situation closely, as the outbreak has resulted in significant fatalities and thousands of cases diagnosed. Vaccination is a critical strategy in controlling the spread of mpox, and international support in the form of vaccine donations has been instrumental in these efforts. The WHO’s Access and Allocation Mechanism aims to ensure that countries impacted by mpox receive the necessary vaccinations and medical resources to combat this health crisis.
In summary, the vaccination initiative against mpox has seen over 50,000 people vaccinated in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, supported by international donations. With confirmed cases and deaths continuing to rise, authorities stress the urgency of resource allocation to manage this outbreak effectively. Efforts from the WHO to distribute nearly 900,000 doses of the vaccine to affected countries mark a crucial step towards controlling the disease and preventing a pandemic on a broader scale than that of Covid-19.
Original Source: www.france24.com
