The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and UNICEF have announced the delivery of the first shipment of JYNNEOS mpox vaccines to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of a crucial vaccination campaign to curb the growing epidemic.
A total of 99,100 doses were delivered, marking a significant milestone in the fight against the virus. Director-general of Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya confirmed the delivery in a statement on Thursday.
Nigeria also received 10,000 JYNNEOS vaccines, donated by the U.S. government, aimed at high-risk regions. JYNNEOS, a third-generation vaccine approved for both smallpox and mpox prevention, has played a critical role in containing the virus since its release in April 2024.
The vaccine shipment to the DRC was officially received by that country’s Minister of Health, Samuel Roger Kamba, alongside UNICEF representative, Grant Leaity and HERA director-general, Laurent Muschel.
Since early 2024, the DRC has reported over 4,901 confirmed mpox cases and 629 deaths. Kaseya noted that the introduction of the vaccine marks a major step in containing the outbreak, particularly for high-risk populations like healthcare workers. An additional 100,900 doses are expected by the end of the week, bringing the total to 200,000 doses.
Mpox, first discovered in monkeys in 1958 and later in humans in 1970, is a zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus. While primarily transmitted from animals to humans, it can also spread through close human contact. The current outbreak is especially concerning due to its rapid spread in urban areas.
The DRC, with a population of approximately 100 million, remains the epicentre of the outbreak. The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared mpox a global public health emergency last month. The virus has now spread to at least 13 African countries and beyond, with cases recently reported in Pakistan, the Philippines, Sweden and Thailand.
