Africa is facing a significant surge in mpox cases, with nearly 4,000 new cases reported in the past week, raising the total to 22,863 cases and 622 deaths. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has emphasized the urgent need for vaccines to control the outbreak. Western partners, including the European Union and the United States, have promised about 380,000 vaccine doses, but this is less than 15% of what is needed, particularly in Congo, which is the epicenter of the outbreak.
The delivery of these vaccines has been delayed due to issues with documentation and emergency authorization, with the earliest batch expected to arrive in Congo on September 1. Despite the swift response to outbreaks outside Africa in 2022, including the provision of vaccines and treatments, only a few doses have reached Africa so far, despite repeated appeals from African governments for support.
