🌍 Congo Launches First Mpox Vaccination Campaign to Battle Outbreak
Congo is taking a major step in fighting the mpox outbreak that's been spreading across Africa this year. On Saturday, Congolese health officials kicked off their first-ever mpox vaccination campaign with a ceremony held at a hospital in Goma, a city in the eastern region of the country.
👩⚕️👨⚕️ Health workers were the first to receive the vaccine doses, showing their commitment to protecting communities. However, the Health Ministry has cautioned that the campaign's reach will be limited for now, as only 265,000 vaccine doses are available, with more expected to arrive soon.
This initiative addresses a significant inequity from last year's global mpox outbreak. While Europe and the United States had widespread access to the two available vaccine shots, many African countries, including Congo, were left without these crucial protections.
💉 \"The rollout of the vaccine marks an important step in limiting the spread of the virus and ensuring the safety of families and communities,\" said Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa.
Mpox spreads through close contact and usually causes mild symptoms like flu-like aches and pus-filled lesions. However, in rare cases, it can be fatal. Last August, the WHO declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern after identifying a new variant of the virus.
Since the beginning of 2024, Congo has reported over 30,000 suspected and confirmed mpox cases and 990 deaths, accounting for 90% of Africa's reported cases this year, according to the WHO.
As vaccine doses start to be distributed, there's hope that Congo's efforts will help contain the virus and prevent further spread across the continent. Stay tuned to NewspaperAmigo.com for more updates on this developing story! 📰✨
