🎉 Congo Launches First Mpox Vaccination Drive to Curb Outbreak 🩺💉
Congolese health officials kicked off their first mpox vaccination campaign this Saturday, taking a major step to control the outbreak that started in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has spread to several African countries this year. 🌍
The launch ceremony was held at a hospital in Goma, an eastern city, where health workers received the initial doses. While the Health Ministry highlighted that the campaign's scope is limited due to resources, with 265,000 vaccine doses available and more on the way, this effort aims to make a significant impact.
This vaccination drive tackles the vaccine inequity that left many African nations without access to mpox shots during the 2022 global outbreak, unlike Europe and the United States where vaccines were widely accessible.
\"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, WHO Regional Director for Africa. 🛡️
Mpox spreads through close contact and usually causes mild flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions, though it can be fatal in rare cases. In August, WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency after identifying a new variant.
Since early 2024, Congo has reported over 30,000 suspected and confirmed mpox cases and 990 deaths, accounting for 90% of Africa's cases this year.
