The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has taken a significant step in combating the spread of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox. On September 5, 2024, the nation received its first consignment of mpox vaccines, a crucial development in the wake of a United Nations public health emergency declaration issued approximately three weeks earlier.
Reuters reported that a shipment of 99,000 Bavarian Nordic vaccine doses, generously provided by the European Union, arrived in Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC, at 13:00 local time. This initial delivery marks the beginning of a larger vaccination effort, with the EU planning to supply a total of 566,000 doses. An additional 200,000 doses are expected to reach the country as early as September 7, 2024.
The urgency of this vaccination campaign is underscored by the alarming statistics provided by the World Health Organization (WHO). Since the start of 2024, Africa has reported over 22,800 mpox cases and 650 fatalities, with the DRC bearing the brunt of this outbreak. Health authorities in the DRC have estimated a need for approximately 3.5 million doses to adequately protect the population.
Of particular concern is the emergence of a new mpox variant known as clade 1b. First identified in South Kivu, DRC, in September 2023, this strain has rapidly spread to neighboring countries, including Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi. Cases have also been detected in travelers from the DRC in Thailand and Sweden, highlighting the potential for international transmission.
The DRC government has announced plans to initiate its vaccination campaign in the second week of October 2024. This timeline allows for the implementation of a comprehensive education program aimed at addressing vaccine hesitancy in certain communities. It's worth noting that the Democratic Republic of Congo has grappled with mpox outbreaks almost annually since the first human case was recorded there in 1970.
A significant challenge in the vaccination effort is the current age restriction on the Bavarian Nordic vaccine. As it is not yet approved for use in children under 12, who constitute the majority of mpox cases in the DRC, the initial phase of vaccination will focus solely on adults.
Mpox, which belongs to the same virus family as smallpox, typically presents with flu-like symptoms accompanied by a distinctive rash of pus-filled lesions. In severe cases, the disease can be fatal. Transmission primarily occurs through close contact, including sexual activity, skin-to-skin contact, or sharing personal items with an infected individual. Pregnant women can also transmit the virus to their unborn children.
The Bavarian Nordic vaccine, known as MVA-BN, has already been deployed in several countries, including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and European Union nations. In these regions, the vaccine is primarily offered to men who have sex with men, identified as a high-risk group for mpox transmission.
As the DRC embarks on this crucial vaccination campaign, it joins global efforts to control the spread of mpox. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, particularly in light of the new clade 1b variant, emphasizing the importance of collaborative action in addressing emerging public health challenges.