Spain will contribute 500,000 Mpox vaccine doses to Africa.
Amidst the escalating Mpox outbreak in various central African nations, Spain has decided to contribute 500,000 vaccine doses to the region. This donation equates to 20% of Spain's entire Mpox vaccine reserves, according to Spain's Ministry of Health, as stated on Tuesday. The Spanish government encourages other European nations to emulate this action by donating an equivalent 20% of their Mpox vaccine stock to the afflicted African nations, rather than hoarding them in regions with no crisis. The Spanish Ministry of Health didn't disclose the recipient countries or the delivery schedule.
The occurrence of Mpox cases and fatalities is on the rise in Africa. Since July, sporadic outbreaks have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. The WHO has categorized the ongoing outbreak of the more harmful 1b virus strain as a global health emergency.
The German government had already declared on Monday its intention to donate 100,000 Mpox vaccine doses to the affected regions, primarily in Africa. These doses will be provided "soon" from the Bundeswehr's reserves, as confirmed by government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit. This implies Germany is nearly exhausting its entire Mpox vaccine stock for this cause. As per a representative from the Ministry of Defense, the current stock totals 118,000 doses. No decision regarding a potential reorder has been made yet.
The Mpox virus was initially discovered in laboratory monkeys in Denmark in 1958. This disease, characterized by fever, muscle pain, and pox-like skin lesions, was colloquially known as monkey pox for several decades.
Spain has expressed its concern about the rising Mpox cases and fatalities in Africa, specifically in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. In response, Spain has pledged to send 500,000 Mpox vaccine doses to the affected regions, which makes up 20% of Spain's entire Mpox vaccine reserves.
