Geneva — The World Health Organization (WHO) is optimistic that mpox outbreaks in Africa could be contained within the next six months. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on Friday that the agency’s first shipment of vaccines is expected to arrive in Congo within days.
Africa has so far received only a small portion of the vaccines required to curb the virus’s spread, with Congo being the hardest hit, reporting over 18,000 suspected cases and 629 deaths.
“With strong government leadership and close collaboration among partners, we believe we can stop these outbreaks within the next six months,” said Tedros at a press briefing.
Despite the recent rise in mpox infections, Tedros noted that there have been relatively few deaths. He also mentioned that 258 cases of the latest version of mpox have been identified in Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Sweden, and Thailand.
Earlier this month, WHO declared the mpox outbreaks in Africa a global emergency to galvanize a robust international response, particularly in countries like Nigeria where the disease has been spreading unnoticed for years. In May, a new strain of the virus was detected in Congo, raising concerns about its potential for easier transmission.
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a viral disease related to smallpox but generally causes milder symptoms such as fever, headache, and body aches. Severe cases can result in painful sores and blisters on the face, chest, hands, and genitals. The virus is primarily spread through close skin-to-skin contact.
WHO has estimated that approximately 230,000 vaccine doses will be shipped to Congo and other affected areas soon. The organization is also working on public awareness campaigns to educate people on preventing the spread of mpox in outbreak regions.
Maria Van Kerkhove, head of WHO’s epidemic and pandemic diseases department, stated that the agency is working to accelerate vaccine distribution to countries in need, despite the limited supply.
Scientists have emphasized that a better understanding of how mpox spreads in Africa is crucial for optimizing vaccine deployment.
Earlier this week, the head of Africa’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expressed hope that the continent would receive about 380,000 doses of mpox vaccines promised by donors, including the U.S. and the European Union. However, this amounts to less than 15% of the doses needed to end the outbreaks in Congo.