Congo Launches First Mpox Vaccination Campaign

The Democratic Republic of Congo has launched its first mpox vaccination campaign in Goma, marking a significant effort to combat an outbreak that has spread to 13 African countries. With 265,000 doses available, the campaign aims to address inequities in vaccine access that have left African nations without protection during previous outbreaks. Health authorities have reported approximately 30,000 suspected cases and 859 deaths in Congo this year, which accounts for over 80% of cases across Africa. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global emergency in August, following the identification of a new, potentially more infectious variant. The vaccination will initially target adults in the most affected areas, with plans to eventually vaccinate 2.5 million people. Meanwhile, limited testing capacity continues to hinder the timely diagnosis of mpox cases in Africa.