Rwanda has made history by becoming the first country in Africa to administer vaccines against the Mpox virus, according to an announcement from the African Union’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on September 19.
Earlier this week, several hundred high-risk individuals in Rwanda received the Mpox vaccine, with the first batch of 300 doses being given out on September 17. This vaccination effort took place near Rwanda’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has been severely affected by the virus, reporting nearly 22,000 cases and over 700 deaths from January to August.
Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya confirmed that the DRC is set to launch its own vaccination campaign in the first week of October.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral infection that can be transmitted from animals to humans and through close physical contact. The virus can lead to serious symptoms, including fever, muscle aches, and large skin lesions.
Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) prequalified the MVA-BN mpox vaccine, allowing international agencies to start procuring it. The vaccine is recommended for adults in a two-dose regimen, with doses given four weeks apart.
Currently, Africa CDC reports a total of 29,152 mpox cases and 738 deaths across 15 African countries. Kaseya emphasized that the virus is not yet under control and highlighted the need for improved testing, as only half of suspected cases are currently tested. The agency aims to increase testing coverage to over 80 percent.
In a separate statement, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that the mpox virus is causing multiple outbreaks in various regions, with rising cases in Burundi and the DRC raising particular concern.
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