Mpox vaccines arriving thanks to EU
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared an international medical emergency in mid-August because of a disturbing outbreak of a new, more deadly variant of mpox, also known as monkeypox, in Africa.
The source of infection is in Congo. There are already 22,863 suspected cases of mpox and 622 deaths. And the virus has been spreading around the world in recent weeks. The new variant of mpox is said to have a mortality rate as high as 10 percent.
WHO experts decided at an emergency committee in Switzerland in mid-August to declare a top-level international medical emergency. In those ways, it wants to alert authorities around the world to prepare for possible outbreaks.
Meanwhile, the first delivery of the mpox vaccine is expected Thursday in Congo. “We are very happy with the arrival of the first shipment of vaccines. It is 99,100 doses that will arrive at Kinshasa airport on Thursday, Sept. 5, at 12:10 a.m. (local time, ed.),” Jean Kaseya said. The head of Africa CDC once again thanked the European Union for “the immediate response to our call for solidarity.”
(SR for Tagtik/Source: AP - Reuters - Belga/Illustration picture: Unsplash)