“Mpox Outbreaks in Africa Could End in 6 Months” – WHO Chief

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announced on Friday that the ongoing mpox outbreaks in Africa could be halted within six months, with the first batch of vaccines expected to arrive in Congo soon. Despite the continent receiving only a small fraction of the vaccines required to curb the virus, particularly in Congo, which has reported over 18,000 suspected cases and 629 deaths, the WHO remains optimistic.

Tedros emphasized the importance of government leadership and international cooperation in achieving this goal. Although mpox cases have surged in recent weeks, the number of fatalities remains relatively low. The WHO also reported 258 cases of a new mpox variant found in Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Sweden, and Thailand.

Earlier this month, the WHO declared the mpox outbreaks in Africa a global emergency, aiming to galvanize a stronger international response to the disease. Mpox, or monkeypox, is related to smallpox but generally causes milder symptoms. It is primarily transmitted through close skin-to-skin contact.

The WHO has estimated that around 230,000 vaccine doses could be sent to Congo and other affected regions soon, alongside educational campaigns to raise awareness about preventing the virus’s spread. However, Maria Van Kerkhove, who heads WHO’s epidemic and pandemic diseases department, acknowledged the challenges posed by the limited vaccine supply and emphasized the need to expedite vaccine access.

Africa’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also indicated that the continent hopes to receive approximately 380,000 doses of mpox vaccines promised by international donors, including the U.S. and the European Union. However, this figure represents less than 15% of the doses needed to fully address the outbreak in Congo, highlighting the ongoing challenges in the fight against the disease.