The Democratic Republic of Congo has launched its first vaccination campaign against mpox in the eastern city of Goma. The vaccine will first be given to health workers and those with existing health issues, with limited resources initially available. More doses are expected to arrive from France, Japan, and the United States. The World Health Organization declared mpox a public health emergency earlier this year due to a new, more infectious variant. The virus has spread to 16 African countries, with over 30,000 cases and 900 deaths reported in DRC alone. The vaccine rollout is seen as a crucial step in limiting the spread of the virus and ensuring the safety of families and communities. The WHO has also approved a PCR test to detect mpox by swabbing skin lesions, with tests expected to be provided to DRC soon. US President Joe Biden has pledged to donate one million doses of the vaccine to African nations, demonstrating international support for combating the outbreak. Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba emphasized the need to prioritize high-risk groups in the vaccination drive, considering the limited availability of doses. The campaign aims to address the ongoing outbreak in the region, which has been ravaged by the virus since last year.
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Health News: DRC rolls out first mass vaccination campaign to combat mpox outbreak
