Germany donates mpox vaccines to Africa

Germany is donating 100,000 doses of mpox vaccine to countries in Africa that have seen an increase in the number of cases.

» Updated:

» Published:

Germany donates mpox vaccines to Africa
Photo: Moses Sawasawa/AP/TT

Share this article

The vaccines come from German military storage facilities and will be made available "shortly", according to the government's spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit.

The donation means that Germany is essentially emptying its stockpile of mpox vaccines, which totals around 118,000 doses, according to the German Ministry of Defense.

Germany is also providing financial support to the World Health Organization (WHO), but wants to work together with European partners in the long run to help Africa start its own vaccine production.

The WHO has declared the increase in mpox cases in Kinshasa-Congo and other African nations a global health emergency and has also called for increased production and donations of vaccines.

The organization's Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says in a statement on Monday afternoon that the mpox outbreak can be stopped, but that $135 million in funding will be required to handle the disease's spread and "a comprehensive and coordinated action plan".

Mpox has been known for decades, but the variant currently spreading in Africa, called clade 1, is believed to be both more contagious and deadly than variant clade 2, whose spread took off in 2022 and which is also present in Sweden.

The virus spreads from animals to humans and also between humans through close physical contact. The disease causes fever, muscle pain, and painful blisters and sores.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Trump's Historic Second State Visit to Windsor Castle

Trump's Historic Second State Visit to Windsor Castle

Bernie Sanders Accuses Israel of Genocide in Gaza, Urges US Action

Bernie Sanders Accuses Israel of Genocide in Gaza, Urges US Action

IDF Expands Cooperation with Gaza Militias Amid Control Concerns

IDF Expands Cooperation with Gaza Militias Amid Control Concerns

Thousands Protest Trump Visit in London Urging Government to Show Backbone

Thousands Protest Trump Visit in London Urging Government to Show Backbone

50 Sudanese Refugees Die in Libya Boat Fire

50 Sudanese Refugees Die in Libya Boat Fire

Lebanon Military Seizes 64 Million Captagon Tablets in Major Raid

Lebanon Military Seizes 64 Million Captagon Tablets in Major Raid

Gaza Conflict Death Toll Surpasses 65,000

Gaza Conflict Death Toll Surpasses 65,000

EU Eases Proposed Cider Juice Content Regulations

EU Eases Proposed Cider Juice Content Regulations

Spain Arrests 19 for Torture and Murder on Migrant Boat

Spain Arrests 19 for Torture and Murder on Migrant Boat

EU Proposes Sanctions on Israel's Ministers and Trade Over Gaza

EU Proposes Sanctions on Israel's Ministers and Trade Over Gaza

Denmark Plans to Invest in Long-Range Precision Weapons

Denmark Plans to Invest in Long-Range Precision Weapons

Suspected Shooter's Texts Reveal Concerns Over Weapon and Father

Suspected Shooter's Texts Reveal Concerns Over Weapon and Father

Germany Warns Iran Over Lack of Action to Avoid UN Sanctions

Germany Warns Iran Over Lack of Action to Avoid UN Sanctions

EU Delays Climate Goals Submission Amid Member Disagreements

EU Delays Climate Goals Submission Amid Member Disagreements

Aleksey Navalny Poisoned, Widow Claims Based on New Tests

Aleksey Navalny Poisoned, Widow Claims Based on New Tests

1,600 Tourists Evacuated from Machu Picchu Amid Protests

1,600 Tourists Evacuated from Machu Picchu Amid Protests

Main Suspect in Madeleine McCann Case Released from Prison

Main Suspect in Madeleine McCann Case Released from Prison

Ukraine Reports Over 130,000 Russian Soldiers Killed in War

Ukraine Reports Over 130,000 Russian Soldiers Killed in War

Trump Welcomed by King Charles at Windsor Castle During UK State Visit

Trump Welcomed by King Charles at Windsor Castle During UK State Visit

New Escape Route Opens for Fleeing Gaza City Residents Amid Bombing

New Escape Route Opens for Fleeing Gaza City Residents Amid Bombing