Global Efforts Intensify to Combat Mpox Outbreak in Africa

A critical step has been taken in the fight against mpox, a viral disease that has claimed thousands of lives in Africa. The first batch of mpox vaccine arrived in Congo’s capital on Thursday, donated by the European Union through its agency for health emergencies, HERA. This comes three weeks after the World Health Organization declared mpox outbreaks in 12 African countries a global emergency.

The 100,000 doses of the MVA-BN vaccine, manufactured by Bavarian Nordic, are a significant step forward in the battle against the disease. Another 100,000 doses are expected to be delivered on Saturday, according to the Congolese authorities. UNICEF will lead the vaccination campaign in the most affected provinces, but the start date remains unclear.

However, the reality is that Africa still needs much more to combat the outbreak. Western partners, including the European Union and the United States, have promised around 380,000 doses, which is less than 15% of the 3 million doses required to end the outbreak in Congo, the epicenter of the global health emergency. The African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is working on a unified response plan, which will be presented to African heads of state for consideration at a meeting in September.

The global mpox outbreak in 2022 highlighted the disparity in vaccine distribution, with wealthy countries responding quickly and Africa receiving limited doses. The current outbreaks in Africa are different from the 2022 outbreak, with sexual transmission and close contact among children, pregnant women, and other vulnerable groups playing a significant role. The majority of cases and deaths are in Congo, where the new mpox variant was first detected, and most infections are in children under 15.

The U.S. has donated 10,000 doses of mpox vaccine to Nigeria, the first known donation to Africa since the current outbreaks. The European Medicines Agency is examining additional data to allow the vaccine to be administered to children aged 12 to 17, which could happen at the end of the month.

As the global community continues to work together to combat the mpox outbreak, it is crucial to address the vaccine inequity and ensure that those most vulnerable to the disease have access to the necessary protection.