Congo Races to Contain Deadly Mpox Outbreak Amid Vaccine Shortages

Health officials in Congo are accelerating vaccination efforts as the disease spreads rapidly, with over 22,000 cases and 716 deaths reported this year.

The World Health Organization has granted pre-authorization for the mpox vaccine, enabling direct purchases by African nations.
Congo has received 250,000 vaccine doses from the U.S. and European Union, but significantly more are needed to stem the outbreak.
The outbreak has spread to 22 of Congo's 26 provinces and 13 neighboring countries, with new cases reported as far as Sweden and Thailand.
More than 70% of mpox cases in Congo are in children, who are particularly vulnerable to the disease.
Experts are debating the need for booster shots in the U.S., though current data does not support widespread booster campaigns.