Tag: Disease outbreaks and humanitarian assistance

Unused vaccines and treatments for an ongoing mpox crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo are worsening the death toll. Despite a higher death rate in Congo compared to the global outbreak, lack of urgency, stigma, and regulatory hurdles have prevented the response. Mpox is a viral infection that spreads through contact and causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions. The Congolese government hasn't requested or applied for vaccines, and medical countermeasures are not cleared for use. The lack of urgency reflects the unequal access to vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic.