The DR Congo, the heart of Africa’s monkeypox (Mpox) outbreak, will begin its vaccination campaign on October 2. ()

The vaccination effort, which runs until October 11, follows the receipt of over 265,000 doses from international partners, according to the minutes of the weekly Council of ministers meeting, Xinhua news agency reported.”The process of procuring 3,000 doses of vaccines for children is sufficiently advancing,” the minutes said, late Friday.

DR Congo Remains Mpox Epicenter

A report by the Congolese Ministry of Health revealed that the DRC has reported 21,813 suspected cases. This includes 716 deaths since the start of 2024. The country accounts for about 90 percent of cases in Africa. This comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the approval of the MVA-BN vaccine, developed by Bavarian Nordic, as the first Mpox vaccine to its prequalification list.

Mpox is a viral illness that can cause a range of symptoms, including fever, rash, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. It is spread through close contact with an infected person or animal, or through contaminated materials. While most cases of Mpox are mild, the virus can be severe in certain individuals, particularly those with weakened immune systems. The development of vaccines and antiviral treatments has been crucial in combating the spread of Mpox and improving outcomes for those infected.

Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic or MVA-BN is indicated for active immunisation against smallpox, Mpox, and related orthopoxvirus infections and disease in all adults 18 years of age and older.

The vaccine can be administered as a 2-dose injection given 4 weeks apart. “Available data shows that a single-dose MVA-BN vaccine given before exposure has an estimated 76 percent effectiveness in protecting people against Mpox, with the 2-dose schedule achieving an estimated 82 percent effectiveness,” the WHO said in a statement.

The ongoing Mpox outbreak in Africa was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the WHO in mid-August. About 15 countries are battling the deadly infections — Morocco has become the latest country. The outbreak began with the emergence of the poorly understood but more dangerous clade 1b variant. It was first detected in the DRC in September 2023. This strain has since been reported in countries including Sweden and Thailand.

Reference:

1. Mpox – (https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/mpox)