Jump to navigation

Vaccine shortfall risks spread of deadly new mpox strain

Disputes over pricing between Big Pharma and African states delayed response as did poor testing and surveillance

It took less than a year for the virus to resurface in Congo-Kinshasa after the World Health Organization (WHO) had announced in May 2023 that the global mpox emergency was over. In mid-August, WHO and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) announced that a deadlier and more contagious strain of the virus was coursing through the refugee camps in eastern Congo-K. By then the new strain, called clade 1b, was reckoned to have killed around 600 people and infected over 18,000. Earlier identification of the new strain and speedier delivery of vaccines could have saved hundreds of lives.

End of preview - This article contains approximately 1325 words.

End of preview

Subscribers: Log in now to read the complete article.

Account Holders: Log in now and use your Account Credit to buy this article. No Credit? Top up your Account now.


If you are logged in, but still cannot access the full text of this article, email customer services or telephone us on +44(0)1638 743633.