Gabrielle Emanuel

Congo has over 20,000 cases of mpox and hundreds of deaths, mostly in children, but zero vaccines until now. A planeload of doses donated from the EU landed in Kinshasa on Thursday.

The U.S. and Europe have access to mpox vaccines, but the epicenter of the current mpox crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has no doses yet.

The World Health Organization declared mpox, previously known as monkeypox, a public health emergency. Cases have been surging in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and spread to nearby countries.

On Wednesday, the WHO said an outbreak of mpox in several African countries is serous enough to constitute a public health emergency of international concern.

"What we're seeing is tip of the iceberg" because of weaknesses in the surveillance system, says Dr. Dimie Ogoina, chair of the WHO's emergency committee.

On Tuesday, it's expected that Africa CDC will announce that Mpox is a health emergency of "continental" concern. An outbreak in the DRC has spread to four countries that have never had Mpox.

This is the first time Africa CDC has announced a "continental emergency." The World Health Organization is considering a similar declaration.

The territory hasn't had any polio cases for 25 years but this suggests the virus is spreading. Polio experts are scrambling to figure out the origins and whether or not there are active cases.

Vaccination rates took a hit during the pandemic — and they've not really recovered, according to a new report from the World Health Organization. But ... look at Ukraine!

On Monday, Gambian lawmakers rejected a bill that would have overturned its ban on female genital mutilation. The vote marks a victory for women’s rights activists and comes after months of intense debate.