Overview

• The DR Congo has received 265,000 mpox vaccine doses from the European Union and the United States, but needs 3 million doses to effectively control the outbreak.
• The vaccination campaign will prioritize adults in the hardest-hit provinces, including healthcare workers, park rangers, and sex workers.
• Children under 15 are particularly affected, accounting for 62% of cases and 80% of deaths in the DR Congo.
• Ongoing armed conflict and poor infrastructure in eastern DR Congo are complicating vaccine distribution and overall outbreak response efforts.
• The World Health Organization and Africa CDC have declared the mpox outbreak a global public health emergency, urging international support and coordination.