Vaccination against the mpox virus has begun in Africa – with Rwanda first out, with several hundred people in the risk zone having been vaccinated, according to the African Union's public health agency Africa CDC.
The first 300 vaccines were distributed near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has been the hardest-hit country with nearly 22,000 cases and over 700 deaths linked to the virus between January and August this year.
According to CDC, vaccinations can begin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the first week of October.
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is related to smallpox and is caused by two virus variants. The new variant that is spreading now is more severe.
The virus causes painful blisters and sores on the skin and flu-like symptoms. The disease is often mild and heals on its own. But if things go badly, the virus can enter the bloodstream and spread to other tissues and organs.
