- Initial Mpox vaccine shipments are arriving in DR Congo this week
- The outbreak is severe
- The more transmissible clade 1b primarily affects adults through sexual contact
As the Mpox outbreak continues to wreak havoc in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, patients at a Kamituga clinic are anxiously awaiting the arrival of vaccines.
The country is scheduled to receive its initial shipment of Mpox vaccine doses on Thursday, with a second shipment expected on Saturday, according to officials.
The situation is increasingly severe, with distressing images of patients suffering from painful lesions. Richard Songa, a patient at Alima hospital, described his dire condition upon arrival and expressed hope for recovery with the forthcoming vaccines.
“This disease is extremely dangerous and poses a serious threat to lives,” he said, stressing the critical need for vaccination.
Dr. Fiston Nepa from Alima clinic highlighted that the majority of patients are adults, attributed to the more transmissible clade 1b, which spreads mainly through sexual contact.
The first batch of vaccines is anticipated to reach Kinshasa, but the eastern Congo outbreak zone remains in urgent need. The World Health Organization declared a global emergency on August 14, with over 18,000 suspected cases and 629 reported deaths in Congo.
