Africa's Fight Against Mpox: Funding and Vaccines in Focus

Africa has secured less than 10% of the $245 million needed to combat a rising mpox outbreak. With around $20 million in hand, Africa CDC is mobilizing resources and moving towards securing nearly 1 million doses of vaccines. The Democratic Republic of Congo remains the most affected.

Africa is facing a significant funding gap in its battle against a surging mpox outbreak, with only a fraction of the needed $245 million secured so far, according to a senior official from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

The outbreak, declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization in mid-August, has spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighboring countries, intensifying pressure on the continent's health systems.

Currently, approximately $20 million is available to tackle the outbreak, with contributions from the Democratic Republic of Congo's government and the African Union. Africa CDC is also in the process of securing nearly 1 million doses of vaccine from various international sources to curb the potentially deadly viral infection.

(With inputs from agencies.)