Pope Francis Calls for Global Mpox Vaccine Aid

Health officials have raised alarms as young people become increasingly vulnerable to mpox, with the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring it a 'public health emergency of international concern.' The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the epicenter, recording over 17,000 suspected cases and a 3.4% mortality rate among the 16,700 confirmed cases. A new, more transmissible strain, Clade 1b, is exacerbating the situation. The WHO has launched a six-month plan requiring $135 million to boost surveillance, prevention, and vaccine distribution, supported by donations such as Germany's 100,000 vaccine doses. Pope Francis has also urged governments and pharmaceutical companies to increase vaccine production and distribution to the hardest-hit regions. The outbreak has spread to at least 14 African countries and has even reached Europe, highlighting the urgent need for a coordinated global response.