The mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and its surrounding countries is getting worse, but vaccinations to stop its spread might not be available for several months. In spite of this, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) are still working to contain the outbreak, which has resulted in over 15,000 suspected cases and 461 deaths throughout Africa this year.
The vaccine delivery delay serves as a reminder of the difficulties in handling public health emergencies in settings with little resources, where health institutions are already overburdened by several ongoing crises.
Africa CDC Declares Public Health Emergency
A historic first for the organization, the Africa CDC declared a public health emergency of continental concern on Tuesday. In addition to highlighting how serious the situation is, this declaration seeks to gather resources and support from throughout the globe.
A panel led by the WHO convened the next day to assess whether the outbreak poses a threat to the world, with the goal of declaring a worldwide public health emergency.
The head of Congo’s Institut National pour la Recherche Biomedicale (INRB), Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum, stressed the significance of these statements.
He pointed out that declaring the outbreak an emergency might draw in much-needed cash and assistance for monitoring and vaccine distribution in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nonetheless, he recognized that there would be formidable obstacles to overcome, considering the size of the nation and the already burdened healthcare system that is battling outbreaks of measles and cholera.
Vaccine Shortages and Delays
The scarcity of vaccines is one of the main obstacles to stopping the mpox outbreak. Despite the fact that the African Union has granted the Africa CDC $10.4 million in emergency funds for its response to the mpox pandemic, there is a major vaccination supply shortage.
The director general of the Africa CDC, Jean Kaseya, declared that 3 million doses of the vaccine would be obtained this year; however, it is yet unknown how and when these doses will be given out.
Only 65,000 doses are expected to be available in the near future, according to sources engaged in the planning of the vaccine deployment in Congo, and vaccination programs are unlikely to start before October.
Given the virus’s rapid growth, especially a new offshoot that has surfaced in refugee camps in the eastern Congo and spread to neighboring countries including Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, and Kenya, this delay is worrying.
The fact that the two vaccines that are most effective against mpox, Jynneos from Bavaria Nordic and LC16 from KM Biologics, are not readily available in the Congo or other African nations, despite the disease being endemic for decades, further complicates the situation.
Although Congo’s authorities authorized the use of these vaccinations within the country in June, the government has not yet formally requested vaccine supply from producers or donor nations, including the US.
The current mpox outbreak in Africa serves as a stark reminder of the differences in how infectious diseases are treated globally.
During the global mpox outbreak in 2022, two vaccines were utilized, mostly in Europe and North America. However, African countries where the virus has been prevalent have not had the same access to these vital medicines. Millions of people are now at risk from a virus that, while generally benign, can cause serious sickness and even death, especially in young children, because to its unavailability.
