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KINSHASA. – Africa’s top public health agency says the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other countries on the continent could start vaccinating against mpox within days.

The DRC is the epicentre of a more deadly strain of the virus that emerged last year and has subsequently spread to some 12 other African states, with confirmed cases in at least 3 countries outside the continent.

Last week, the World Health Organization declared the spread of the new strain a public health emergency of international concern.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says vaccine doses are due to arrive  shortly.

This follows pledges by the European Union, vaccine-maker Bavarian Nordic, the United States, and Japan.

The centre says it has been working on logistics and communication strategies with countries experiencing mpox outbreaks in order to facilitate the roll out. – africanews