The World Health Organization (WHO) is preparing to deliver the first batch of mpox vaccines to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the coming days. The move comes in response to a recent surge in cases of a new strain, Clade 1b, which has prompted the WHO to declare an international emergency on August 14th.
The WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirmed that the initial delivery of vaccines will be followed by further shipments. The organization has readily available 230,000 mpox doses for immediate dispatch, according to Tim Nguyen, the unit head of Global Infectious Hazards Preparedness at the WHO Emergency Programme.
Dr. Tedros highlighted the alarming rate of increase in Clade 1b cases, stressing that while deaths have been relatively low in recent weeks, the situation requires swift action. The DRC is the epicenter of the outbreak, with 258 confirmed cases of Clade 1b also reported in Burundi, four in Rwanda, four in Uganda, two in Kenya, and one each in Sweden and Thailand.
During his visit to the DRC, Dr. Tedros met with President Felix Tshisekedi to discuss the outbreak and emphasize the importance of effective communication and community engagement. The WHO Director-General reiterated the organization’s commitment to expedite vaccine access and delivery, acknowledging that while vaccines are a crucial tool, they are not the sole solution.
Dr. Tedros expressed hope that the situation can be contained within the next six months, emphasizing the need for a political solution to address the ongoing insecurity in the region. Rosamund Lewis, the WHO technical lead for mpox, also expressed optimism that the vaccines and other interventions by health partners will help bring the number of cases down in the near future.
