'The virus can be stopped' – WHO says it has a $135 million plan to halt mpox spread; DRC vaccine delivery delayed

ZIMSPHERE 

THE World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Monday the implementation of a six-month plan aimed at controlling the transmission of the mpox virus, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighboring regions.

Red Cross officials create awareness around mpox in the Don Bosco refugee camp in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2023. [Image: AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa]

The plan, which will run from September through February next year, includes measures to bolster health staffing, enhance surveillance, and strengthen prevention and response strategies.

The WHO expects to secure $135 million to fund the initiative, underscoring the urgency and scale of the response required to combat the ongoing mpox outbreaks. 

"The mpox outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries can be controlled, and can be stopped," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a statement

To this end the, U.N agency said that it is "scaling up staff" in the affected areas.

WHO's declaration comes in the wake of its mid-August classification of the mpox outbreak as a global health emergency. The DRC, which remains the hardest-hit country, reported over 1,000 new cases in a single week last Tuesday. 

As of Thursday, the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than 21,300 suspected or confirmed cases and 590 deaths across 12 African countries this year.

In a related development, the DRC announced that it no longer expects to receive its first delivery of mpox vaccines this week. 

Cris Kacita, head of the country's response team, confirmed the delay on Monday, attributing it to procedural issues that must be resolved before the vaccines can be delivered.

READ MORE: Africa to launch mpox vaccination campaigns within days as cases surge

On August 19, Congo's health minister had indicated that the first vaccines were expected to arrive this week. 

However, Kacita explained that the Congolese pharmaceutical regulatory agency must first consult with Danish drugmaker Bavarian Nordic (BAVA.CO) before the vaccines can be shipped.

Bavarian Nordic, one of the few companies with an mpox vaccine currently available, informed the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in mid-August that it could produce up to 10 million doses by the end of 2025, with as many as 2 million doses potentially available this year.

(with news agencies)