Mpox cases and deaths continue to rise in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as the country waits for vaccines from the U.S. and Japan, according to Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba.
Within a few days, cases increased from 16,000 with 548 deaths to 16,700 cases and over 570 deaths. Minister Kamba called the situation a “continental emergency.” The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the mpox surge in Africa a global public health emergency, with new outbreaks reported in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. Even Sweden has identified a case of the new deadly strain.
The U.S. has committed to sending 50,000 vaccine doses to the DRC, while Japan has agreed to provide 3.5 million doses for children. The DRC plans to vaccinate 4 million people, including 3.5 million children, and expects the vaccines to arrive soon. The WHO has urged affected countries to strengthen vaccination efforts and investigate cases to prevent further spread.
The more dangerous mpox strain, known as clade 1b, has a fatality rate of about 3.6%, especially affecting children. The disease has spread across all 26 provinces of the DRC, a country of 100 million people. The virus, first identified in humans in the DRC in 1970, is spread through contact with infected animals or people and causes fever, muscle aches, and skin lesions.
Authorities are working to control the outbreak with new guidelines from the WHO, including monitoring and supporting infected individuals to prevent transmission and ensuring cross-border cooperation without disrupting travel or trade.