The United States, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has announced an additional $35 million in emergency health assistance to support the ongoing response to the clade I mpox outbreak in Central and Eastern Africa.
This new funding, pending Congressional Notification, raises the total U.S. government support for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and other affected countries in the region to over $55 million.
The newly announced assistance will allow USAID to continue collaborating with affected nations, regional entities, and global health organizations to mitigate the impact of the rapidly evolving outbreak.
The support includes crucial measures such as enhanced surveillance, improved diagnostics, risk communication, community engagement, infection prevention, case management, and vaccination planning and coordination.
The mpox outbreak, which began in the DRC in 2023, has spread to several other countries in the region, prompting international concern.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared the situation a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), while the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) issued a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security.
As part of the U.S. response, USAID will donate 50,000 doses of Jynneos vaccines to the DRC and provide resources to support vaccine readiness and distribution.
