The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched an emergency response amid a resurgence of Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, which has raised concerns globally. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is at the center of the outbreak, reporting at least 18,000 cases and 500 deaths. More than 70% of those affected are children.
Dr. Samuel Boland, the WHO’s incident manager for Mpox in Africa said that the organization is implementing new strategies to address the outbreak, even in conflict-ridden areas of the DRC. “We are using radio broadcasts to reach communities that are hard to access by foot. We have mobilized a large network of personnel across the DRC and other affected regions, ready to support the response efforts in these challenging areas,” Boland said.
The Congolese health minister announced Monday that the DRC expects to receive vaccine doses by next week. The WHO has stressed the urgency of distributing these vaccines. Boland emphasized the importance of getting vaccines into the hands of those who need them and implementing national vaccination plans as soon as the vaccines arrive.
The resurgence has led the WHO to declare Mpox a global health emergency last week. Boland highlighted that effective prevention measures, including public health and social practices, are crucial. “Building knowledge and understanding about the signs and symptoms of Mpox, and maintaining preventive measures, can help curb transmission. Vaccination is not the only solution; upholding public health practices is essential,” he said.
The WHO reassures that the Mpox situation is not comparable to COVID-19.
