Congo to launch mpox vaccination drive as cases near 31,000

The Democratic Republic of Congo will begin its mpox vaccination campaign on Saturday in the eastern city of Goma, Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba Mulamba said on Friday.

The announcement comes as the country faces a significant outbreak, with nearly 31,000 infections reported and 988 deaths since the beginning of 2024.

According to Reuters, vaccination teams will be deployed this weekend, initially targeting adult populations.

The campaign is set to expand to South Kivu, the province hardest hit by the outbreak, Reuters quoted Mulamba as saying at a news conference in Kinshasa.

The minister highlighted challenges in reaching certain areas, including occupied territories and displaced persons camps, citing security concerns. He said the campaign's slight delay was due to necessary training, planning, and community outreach efforts.

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Aid organizations have warned that displaced populations, living in overcrowded conditions with limited hygiene facilities and healthcare access, are particularly vulnerable to mpox. The vaccination drive aims to curb the virus's spread among these at-risk communities.

With inputs from agencies