Democratic Republic of Congo's government has asked Japan to donate at least 2 million doses of mpox vaccine, a senior official at Africa's top public health body and a Congolese official said on Tuesday.
Japan's government said last week that Congo had requested mpox vaccine shots, but did not say how many.
Ngashi Ngongo from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) told a briefing that the health agency understood that talks with Japan were "quite advanced" and Congo wanted the vaccine to protect children.
The head of Congo's mpox response team, Cris Kacita, confirmed to Reuters the Central African country had asked Japan for over 2 million vaccine doses.
Mpox is a potentially deadly infection that causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions and spreads through close physical contact.
It was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization earlier this month after a new strain, known as clade Ib, spread from Congo to neighbouring African countries.
Japan holds a stockpile of the LC16 mpox vaccine made by Japanese company KM Biologics. Denmark's Bavarian Nordic (BAVA.CO), opens new tab makes another vaccine called Jynneos. The first mpox vaccines could arrive in Africa in the first week of September, according to Africa CDC.
Several strains of mpox are spreading in Africa at the same time, but Congo accounts for the vast majority of the cases that have been reported on the continent this year.
A presentation by the Africa CDC on Tuesday said that as of Aug. 26, 13 African countries had reported more than 22,800 mpox cases and 622 deaths in 2024, up from 12 countries reporting over 18,900 cases and 541 deaths a week earlier.
Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya told reporters the African continent was not ready for another pandemic after being treated unfairly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We faced COVID, we didn't have vaccines, medicines. We didn't have even syringes, gloves, and were abandoned. Today we are in a similar situation where we start to look for vaccines because we don't manufacture vaccines," he said.
Kaseya said a preliminary report showed only one unnamed African vaccine manufacturer had the capacity to make Bavarian Nordic's mpox vaccine, given the right technology transfer.
Latest Stories
-
FirstBank Ghana expands footprint with new Nhyiaeso branch
2 mins -
FirstBank Ghana pays courtesy call on Asantehene ahead of Nhyiaeso branch commissioning
7 mins -
CAF President blasts Ghana over Baba Yara stadium ban
11 mins -
GUTA calls for de-politicization of fight against galamsey
12 mins -
Police outlines guidelines for NDC’s nationwide demonstration against EC
27 mins -
Demystifying the claims of rip-offs and arbitrary charges in Ghana’s port sector—from the shipping lines perspective
38 mins -
EducationUSA: Ghanaian students in US benefit from $9 million Investment
52 mins -
Elections not about insults; be decent in your speech – Bawumia to Mahama
57 mins -
Reverse osmosis the most reliable way to filter water – Association of Packaged Water Producers
1 hour -
UG SRC Presidential Race: Court ruling has taught me a lot about life – Guru
1 hour -
Voazok Tours to hold Canada Agricultural Tour
2 hours -
Peace Council implements measures to ensure peaceful 2024 elections
2 hours -
Staff of banks involved in fraud increases by 46% in 2023; BoG expresses worry
2 hours -
NDC calls for public support for upcoming protest – W/R NDC Secretary
2 hours -
2024/25 GPL: Vision FC secure 2-0 maiden GPL win against Accra Lions
2 hours