Increasing cases of Mpox globally could rise to scramble for vaccines - Report

Rising cases of Mpox infection globally may rise to scramble for vaccines; a reputable health journal has now indicated.

According to an article published in the Lancet Health Journal by Paul Adepoju, a Nigerian scientist turned journalist and communications professional with extensive reporting expertise in science and health, a scramble for vaccines is likely to occur as Mpox spreads.

The article "Mpox Declared a Public Health Emergency," published on August 24, 2024, indicates that health officials are hurrying to contain the virus in the face of limited vaccination supply, inadequate testing, and the need to balance responses to many public health concerns.

Kenya has already confirmed its second mpox case in a truck driver travelling from Uganda at the Malaba border, Health PS Mary Muthoni told the media.

The driver stated that he had recently gone to DR Congo, which is the epicentre of the disease.

"The patient has been isolated and is under active management in one of our health facilities in Busia County," the Ministry of Health stated.

The truck driver went to the Port Health screening station at Malaba One Stop Border Post with disease symptoms.

According to Adepoju, in an epidemic intelligence report provided by the Africa CDC on August 16, there have been 18 737 mpox cases (3101 confirmed and 15 636 suspected) across 12 African countries since the beginning of the year, with 541 deaths. In 2023, Africa reported 14,838 Mpox cases (1665 confirmed and 13,173 suspected) in seven countries, with 738 confirmed deaths.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo accounts for 95 per cent (17,794) of the reported cases and 99 per cent (535) of the deaths from Mpox in 2024, making it the main focus of the response.

Unlike the 2022 Mpox outbreak, which predominantly affected men who have sex with men, the 2024 outbreak is impacting a broader demographic. The virus, primarily spreading through direct contact, has been reported among men, women, and children. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where Mpox cases have been reported in all 26 provinces, children younger than 15 years account for 66 per cent of reported cases and more than 82 per cent of deaths.

"Mpox is endemic in our region, and with endemic diseases, exposure is inevitable. Children are particularly vulnerable due to contact, malnutrition, and compromised immunity. The lack of smallpox vaccination, which could have provided some protection, also contributes", Merawi Aragaw Tegegne, Acting Head of the Division of Emergency Preparedness & Response at Africa CDC, told The Lancet.