Mpox cases rise in DR Congo as country awaits vaccines

KINSHASA

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is experiencing a sharp rise in mpox cases and deaths as it awaits vaccine shipments from the United States and Japan, the country's health minister reported on Monday.

Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba announced that the toll has increased to 16,700 cases and "a little more than 570" deaths, up from 16,000 cases and 548 deaths reported just days earlier.

"We are talking about a continental emergency," Kamba said at a press briefing, echoing the World Health Organization's (WHO) recent declaration of the mpox surge in Africa as a global public health emergency.

"Outbreaks have also been reported in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda since July. A case of the new strain has been detected in Sweden as well, indicating the potential for wider spread."

The United States has pledged 50,000 vaccine doses for DRC, while Japan has agreed to send 3.5 million doses intended for children, according to an anonymous medical source. DRC plans to vaccinate a total of four million people, including 3.5 million children.

Kamba expressed hope that vaccines would arrive within a week, stating, "The vaccine is a solution to our problems." He urged citizens to get vaccinated once doses become available.

The outbreak has now spread to all 26 provinces in the country of approximately 100 million people. The WHO has issued updated guidelines for countering the surge, calling for increased vaccination efforts and thorough case investigations.

A new, more deadly strain of mpox - clade 1b - is causing concern, with a mortality rate of about 3.6 percent, particularly affecting children. Kamba noted that the virus is increasingly affecting young people, with many cases reported in children under 15.

The African Union health agency reported a total of 18,737 suspected or confirmed mpox cases in Africa since the beginning of the year, including 1,200 cases in one week.

As the DRC awaits vaccine shipments, health authorities continue to urge vigilance and preparation to combat the spreading outbreak.