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In a significant step to combat the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa, Germany announced on Monday that it would donate 100,000 doses of mpox vaccine to countries hardest hit by the disease.
The vaccines, sourced from German military stocks, will be made available to African nations “in the short term,” according to government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit. This donation represents a substantial portion of Germany’s total vaccine reserves, which stand at approximately 118,000 doses.
The move aligns with Germany’s commitment to supporting international efforts to contain the spread of mpox, particularly on the African continent. In addition to vaccine donations, Germany is also providing financial assistance to the World Health Organization (WHO) and collaborating with the Gavi vaccine alliance to strengthen healthcare systems in affected regions.
The WHO recently declared the surge of mpox cases in Africa a global health emergency, emphasizing the urgent need for increased vaccine production and distribution. France and the United States have already pledged to donate 100,000 and 50,000 doses, respectively, to countries impacted by the outbreak.
The current outbreak is driven by a more contagious and deadly strain of mpox known as Clade 1b. The virus has spread rapidly across the Democratic Republic of Congo, resulting in over 570 deaths this year alone. Cases have also been reported in neighboring countries such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.
Mpox can be transmitted from animals to humans and between humans through close physical contact. The German government’s decision to donate vaccines is a vital contribution to the global response to this public health crisis.
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