Mpox Is Back in the News. Here's What Clinicians Need to Know
September 4, 2024
Africa faces a resurgent mpox outbreak, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) at its epicenter. This crisis, marked by the spread of the deadlier clade I subtype and rising pediatric cases, poses significant global health challenges.
The DRC alone reports over 27,000 suspected cases and 1,300 deaths, yielding a 5% fatality rate. This evolving outbreak, characterized by high mortality and changing patient demographics, challenges existing disease control strategies.
The Africa CDC and UNICEF have delivered 99,100 doses of JYNNEOS mpox vaccine to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), marking the start of a crucial vaccination campaign. This initiative aims to combat the escalating mpox epidemic in the country, which has reported over 4,901 confirmed cases and 629 deaths since the beginning of 2024 – a significant increase from previous years.
The vaccine shipment was received by DRC's Minister of Health, Samuel Roger Kamba, along with key representatives from Africa CDC, UNICEF, and the EU's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA). This collaborative effort represents a decisive step towards protecting at-risk populations and curbing the spread of mpox in the region.