Congo Receives First Batch of Mpox Vaccines Amid Outbreak

The Democratic Republic of Congo received 99,000 mpox vaccine doses from the European Union, aimed at curbing a severe outbreak. The plane carrying the vaccines landed in Kinshasa at 13:00 local time. A second delivery will bring the total to 200,000 doses by Saturday.

The Democratic Republic of Congo received its first batch of mpox vaccines on Thursday, aiming to curb an outbreak that has led the U.N. to declare a global public health emergency.

Congo is at the outbreak's epicentre, which has spread to neighboring countries and beyond, impeded by a lack of vaccines in Africa. A plane carrying doses manufactured by Bavarian Nordic and donated by the European Union landed in Kinshasa at 13:00 local time (12:00 GMT), according to Reuters reporters at the airport.

This initial delivery comprises 99,000 doses, and a forthcoming delivery on Saturday will cumulatively bring the total to 200,000 doses, said Laurent Muschel, head of the EU Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA).

(With inputs from agencies.)