Rwanda first with mpox vaccine in Africa

Vaccination against the mpox virus has begun in Africa – with Rwanda first with hundreds of people at risk having received the vaccine, the African Union’s public health agency Africa CDC says.

The first 300 vaccines were distributed near the border with Congo-Kinshasa, which has been the worst-affected country with nearly 22,000 cases and more than 700 deaths linked to the virus in the period between January and August this year.

According to the CDC, vaccinations can begin in Congo-Kinshasa in the first week of October.

Mpox, formerly known as smallpox, is related to smallpox and is caused by two types of virus. The new version that is spreading now is more dangerous.

The virus causes painful bumps and sores on the skin and flu-like symptoms. Often the disease is mild and will heal on its own. But if things go badly, the virus can end up in the blood and spread to other tissues and organs.