KINSHASA, Congo (ChatnewsTV) — The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has launched a vaccination campaign against mpox, aiming to curb the ongoing outbreak of the viral disease. The campaign, which started in North Kivu province, prioritizes health workers, frontline responders, and contacts of confirmed cases.
The DRC has received 265,000 doses of the MVA-BN vaccine, donated by the European Commission, Gavi, and the U.S. government. Vaccination efforts will expand to 11 of the most affected provinces, including Equateur, Sankuru, and South Kivu.
“The rollout of the vaccine marks an important step in limiting the spread of the virus and ensuring the safety of families and communities,” said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
Mpox has caused over 30,000 suspected and confirmed cases in the DRC this year, with 990 deaths reported. WHO is collaborating with national authorities and partners to scale up vaccination, surveillance, and community engagement to combat the outbreak.
