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The global response to the escalating mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been hampered by a series of delays and a lack of coordinated effort, highlighting a critical lapse in preparedness for such emergencies. The outbreak, caused by a mutated form of mpox circulating in the DRC for months, has now reached the status of a global health emergency. However, the country remains without a single vaccine to combat the spread of the disease, a stark testament to the challenges faced on the ground.
The delayed reactions to the crisis can be traced back to the last mpox emergency that concluded in 2023. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has voiced concerns about the inadequate support received during that period, echoing a broader sentiment that the world failed to adequately prepare for a potential resurgence of the virus. Even as the threat from mpox re-emerged and the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed its anxieties, the DRC hesitated to formally request vaccine donations. The country's drug regulators only approved emergency use for the mpox vaccines in June, further delaying the critical process of procuring and distributing these life-saving resources.
The absence of a swift and coordinated global response to the mpox crisis is rooted in a complex interplay of factors. The world's focus has been elsewhere, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing conflicts and crises that have demanded the attention of governments. This shift in priorities has led to a neglect of disease surveillance and basic primary healthcare, creating vulnerabilities that allow outbreaks like the current mpox crisis to escalate. This situation emphasizes the urgent need for a more proactive approach to global health preparedness, one that acknowledges the interconnectedness of health threats and prioritizes early intervention and coordinated efforts.
The situation in the DRC is further complicated by multiple other health threats, including measles outbreaks and a humanitarian crisis, which has displaced over 1.7 million people in the province where the mpox outbreak originated. This complex web of health challenges has amplified the existing vulnerabilities and strained the already stretched resources of the DRC's health system. The estimated number of mpox cases in the country stands at 15,700, although the real figure is likely much higher due to underreporting and the challenges of accessing remote areas. The sheer scale of the crisis requires a massive financial response, one that the DRC, as one of the world's poorest countries, is unable to provide. The country's public health minister, Roger Kamba, has estimated that 3.5 million vaccine doses will be needed, at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars.
The international community has begun to mobilize in response to the unfolding crisis, with organizations like Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, holding daily meetings to discuss the outbreak in the DRC. However, as of last week, the DRC had yet to formally request vaccines, highlighting the logistical and bureaucratic hurdles that continue to hinder the timely provision of much-needed assistance. While the country has sought vaccine doses from the US and Japan, it currently lacks any mpox vaccines for its emergency response. Despite the challenges, there is a growing recognition that coordinated efforts are essential for an effective response. Gavi's CEO, Sania Nishtar, emphasizes the importance of collaboration between international donors, highlighting the need for a unified and coordinated mechanism to ensure that resources are efficiently channeled to the DRC.
Several countries have committed to donating vaccines from their existing stockpiles. The US plans to donate 50,000 doses, but has millions more available. The UK has also confirmed its willingness to contribute from its stockpile, while Germany has 117,000 doses ready to be deployed. However, despite the availability of these vaccines, there are still logistical barriers and bureaucratic hurdles that impede access for countries in need. This situation underscores the urgent need to streamline the process of vaccine distribution and ensure that these vital resources reach those most vulnerable to the disease.
While initial donations can provide a temporary buffer, the longer-term response will require a sustained effort to procure vaccines from manufacturers like Bavarian Nordic A/S. The company's CEO, Paul Chaplin, highlights the need for a more proactive approach to pandemic preparedness, drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and the previous mpox outbreak in 2022-2023. These events have demonstrated the interconnectedness of global health threats and the critical importance of swift and coordinated action in addressing outbreaks before they escalate into full-blown emergencies.
Source: How the world sleepwalked into the global mpox emergency