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Vaccination start against Mpox: DR Congo fights against deadly virus
In Kinshasa, the DR Congo begins Mpox vaccinations to minimize health risks and protect affected people.
Vaccination start against Mpox: DR Congo fights against deadly virus
The Democratic Republic of Congo began a vaccination campaign against the dangerous Mpox virus on Saturday, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported. This initiative primarily aims to protect healthcare workers, first responders and vulnerable people in eastern North Kivu.
The vaccination is carried out with a special vaccine, the MVA-BN, produced by the Danish-German company Bavarian Nordic. A total of 265,000 doses have been made available, financed by generous donations from the European Union, the Gavi vaccination initiative and the United States. This support is crucial in a country affected by a serious outbreak.
The situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is on the rise in several African nations, with the Democratic Republic of Congo particularly hard hit. Since the beginning of 2024, the WHO has recorded over 30,000 suspected and confirmed cases, including almost 990 deaths. These frightening figures make it clear that around 90 percent of the Mpox cases registered in 15 African countries this year come from the Congo. It is also worrying that a significant proportion of those affected are children under the age of five.
The vaccination campaign is planned to be expanded to other regions in order to reach a wider population and curb the increase in cases. The rapid response to the increasing number of infections shows the commitment of health authorities and international organizations committed to containing this serious health threat.
With this vaccination campaign, the democratic Republic of Congo hopes to confront the Mpox epidemic and increase the safety of the most vulnerable groups. Further information can be found at www.radioguetersloh.de.