The Ministry of Health has announced the launch of a Mpox vaccination campaign as part of Rwanda’s preparedness and response to this public health emergency of international concern.
The announcement posted on X, highlights the campaign started on health workers, cross-border business operators, hospitality workers, and other high-risk groups.
On July 24, 2024, the IHR National Focal Point (NFP) for Rwanda notified WHO of two laboratory-confirmed mpox cases in Rwanda, and on July 27, the Ministry of Health declared an outbreak of mpox in the country.
According to the WHO prequalification, the vaccine can be administered to people over the age of 18 as a two-dose injection given four weeks apart.
The Africa CDC reports a total of 29,152 cases and 738 deaths across 15 countries on the continent.
The DRC has been the worst-affected country, with nearly 22,000 cases and more than 700 deaths linked to the virus between January and August.
Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV).
MPXV transmits between humans through close contact with lesions, body fluids, infectious respiratory particles, or contaminated materials, or from animals to humans through contact with live animals or consumption of contaminated bushmeat.
Mpox causes signs and symptoms that usually begin within a week of exposure but can start one to 21 days later. Symptoms typically last for two to four weeks but may last longer in someone with a weakened immune system.
Normally, fever, muscle aches, and sore throat appear first, followed by skin and mucosal rash. Lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes) is also a typical feature of mpox, present in most cases.
Transmission through sexual contact has been observed to lead to the appearance sometimes of only genital lesions. Children, pregnant women, and people with weak immune systems are at risk of developing complications and dying of mpox.
Rwanda launches Mpox vaccination campaign
