The mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reached critical levels, prompting the World Health Organisation (WHO) to declare a global health emergency. As of October 6, 2024, the DRC has officially begun its mpox vaccination campaign, with 265,000 doses donated by the European Union and the United States. This initiative comes in response to approximately 30,000 suspected mpox cases and 859 deaths reported this year. The campaign is initially focused in Goma, North Kivu province, targeting at-risk populations and frontline healthcare workers. [6d95c396]
The Nyiragongo General Referral Hospital in Goma has been overwhelmed, reporting 16,000 cases this year alone, with a fatality rate of 3.6% for the new clade 1b strain, which particularly affects infants and children. Daily, between 5 to 20 new patients are admitted, straining hospital resources. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has declared a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) for mpox, which has spread from the DRC to other African nations and has been detected in countries like Sweden and Pakistan. [342d0759]
The outbreak is further complicated by the displacement of 7.3 million people in the DRC, facilitating the virus's spread. South Kivu province alone reports approximately 350 new cases weekly. Experts warn that the epidemic will require rapid international cooperation to contain, especially as the less severe clade 2 is endemic in parts of West Africa, while the deadlier clade 1 has been endemic in the Congo Basin for decades. [d7db8866]
In addition to the initial vaccine doses, Japan is expected to provide an additional 3 million doses, which will be crucial in combating the outbreak. Despite the ongoing crisis, healthcare workers have expressed relief at the start of the vaccination campaign, which is seen as a vital step in controlling the spread of mpox. The WHO and the ECDC anticipate more imported cases in Europe, highlighting the need for comprehensive vaccination strategies and public health measures to address the ongoing crisis. [6d95c396]