The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has initiated its first vaccination campaign against mpox following a devastating outbreak that has resulted in over 859 deaths this year . The World Health Organization (WHO) classified the situation as a global emergency nearly two months prior to the campaign's launch, emphasizing the critical nature of the public health crisis. With more than 30,000 suspected cases reported, accounting for over 80% of Africa's total cases and nearly all related fatalities on the continent, swift action is imperative to mitigate further loss of life.
Some of the 265,000 doses donated to the DRC by the EU and the US were administered in the eastern city of Goma in North Kivu province, where hospitals and health workers have been overstretched, struggling to contain the new and possibly more infectious strain of mpox.
The DRC, with about 30,000 suspected mpox cases and 859 deaths, accounts for more than 80% of all the cases and 99% of all the deaths reported in Africa this year. All of the central African country’s 26 provinces have recorded mpox cases.
Although most mpox infections and deaths recorded in the DRC are in children under 15, the doses being administered are only meant for adults and will be given to at-risk populations and frontline workers, the health minister, Roger Kamba, said this week.
Mpox can spread through close contact. Usually mild, it is fatal in rare cases. It typically causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions on the body.
In August, the WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern after a new variant was identified.
The news of the vaccination program brought relief among many in Congo, especially in hospitals that had been struggling to manage the outbreak.
Eastern Congo has been beset by conflict for years, with more than 100 armed groups vying for a foothold in the mineral-rich area near the border with Rwanda. Some have been accused of carrying out mass killings.
Vaccination efforts are currently focused in Goma, where healthcare facilities are overwhelmed by patient influxes. Initially targeting adults—particularly healthcare workers and individuals with pre-existing health conditions—the program faces significant limitations due to an inadequate supply of vaccines; only 265,000 doses are available for a population exceeding 100 million . However, additional doses from international partners such as Japan and France are anticipated shortly. This concerted effort highlights both the urgency and complexity of addressing infectious disease outbreaks in resource-limited settings.
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