Monkeypox – WHO recommends that affected countries launch vaccination plans

The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised countries affected by MPox to launch vaccination plans in areas where the virus is on the rise.

The heart of the MPox outbreak is in Congo and the surrounding countries such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. The WHO declared an international health emergency for smallpox on 14 August.

Mpox is a viral disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans, but is also spread through close physical contact. The infection causes fever, muscle pain and rash.

After an outbreak of monkeypox in 2022, the WHO has already recommended that the affected countries draw up a control and surveillance plan.

In the additional advice, the UN group talks to countries that are suffering from an outbreak of the disease, including Congo, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. They are now being advised to develop a vaccination strategy for the areas where virus cases have emerged. In addition, the WHO also recommends cross-border work to monitor suspected cases of MPOX and to advise travelers and transport companies.

Congolese Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba hopes to receive the first vaccine next week. He said that on Monday night. The country has been the hardest hit with more than 16,700 registered cases and at least 570 deaths since the beginning of the year. The United States has pledged 50,000 doses, Japan then pledged 3.5 million doses for children on Monday.

Congo, which has a population of about 100 million, plans to vaccinate four million people, including 3.5 million children. More and more young people have been infected recently, the minister said.