US will donate 1 million mpox vaccines to African countries

Mpox is a viral disease transmitted from animals to humans, but also between people through prolonged physical contact. It causes fever, muscle pain and skin lesions and can sometimes be fatal.

The resurgence of mpox on the continent and the emergence of a new variant led the World Health Organization (WHO) to activate the highest global alert level in mid-August.

The first vaccination campaign against the disease began last week in Rwanda, according to the African Union health agency.

According to the WHO, between January and September 8, a total of 25,093 suspected cases of mpox and 723 deaths were reported across the continent.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the epicenter of the epidemic, indicated that it will begin its vaccination campaign on October 2nd.