https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/mpox/sierra-leone-reports-mpox-cases-vaccine-approach-broadens-dr-congo
Sierra Leone reports mpox cases as vaccine approach broadens in DR Congo
Lisa Schnirring
Today at 11:33 a.m.
Mpox
Officials added, however, that countries are in different stages of their outbreaks, with eight nations in the control phase, including four that have gone 3 months with no new cases: South Africa, Gabon, Morocco, and Zimbabwe.
The Central African Region is still the outbreak hot spot, making up 85% of all new cases and 99.2% of its deaths. The region includes the most affected countries—the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Burundi.
Sierra Leone patients had no travel history
Earlier this week, Sierra Leone declared a health emergency after detecting two mpox cases withing 4 days of each other.
Jean Kaseya, MD, MPD, Africa CDC's director-general, said the patients are from Western Area Urban and neighboring Western Area Rural districts in the westernmost part of Sierra Leone. Neither of the patients had recently traveled outside of the country, and both are hospitalized and receiving treatment.
So far, 25 contacts have been identified and are under monitoring. Overall, 64 suspected cases have been reported and 62 have been tested, he added.
Community vaccination approach for DRC hot spots
Kaseya said the mpox vaccine has been well received in countries that have deployed the vaccine, including in the DRC. He said there is enough supply to shift the vaccine approach beyond contacts of contacts of confirmed cases to now cover whole regions where cases are reported.
Children have been among the most affected groups in parts of the DRC and Burundi, owing to household spread of the clade 1b virus. Doses of the LC16 vaccine from Japan, which can be used in young children, are in the DRC, and healthcare workers are being trained on how to administer it with a bifurcated needle.
Kaseya estimated that immunization with the vaccine will likely begin at the end of February or early March, adding that talks with Japan are under way about use of the vaccine in other affected countries.
Mpox treatment trial launches in DRC
In other developments, Africa CDC yesterday announced that the first patients have been enrolled in a trial to assess the safety and efficacy of brincidofovir, an antiviral from Emergent BioSolutions, as a treatment for mpox infection.
The agency said the first patients were enrolled at Mbandaka Hospital in the DRC's Equateur province. Researchers from an Africa-led pandemic preparedness group called PANTHER (Pandemic Preparedness Platform for Health and Emerging Infections Response) is leading the trial, which received support from Africa CDC along with initial funding from the European Union.
Sierra Leone reports mpox cases as vaccine approach broadens in DR Congo
Lisa Schnirring
Today at 11:33 a.m.
Mpox
In its first briefing of the new year, officials from Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said Sierra Leone is the latest country in Africa to report mpox cases, which brings the number of affected African countries to 21.Officials added, however, that countries are in different stages of their outbreaks, with eight nations in the control phase, including four that have gone 3 months with no new cases: South Africa, Gabon, Morocco, and Zimbabwe.
The Central African Region is still the outbreak hot spot, making up 85% of all new cases and 99.2% of its deaths. The region includes the most affected countries—the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Burundi.
Sierra Leone patients had no travel history
Earlier this week, Sierra Leone declared a health emergency after detecting two mpox cases withing 4 days of each other.
Jean Kaseya, MD, MPD, Africa CDC's director-general, said the patients are from Western Area Urban and neighboring Western Area Rural districts in the westernmost part of Sierra Leone. Neither of the patients had recently traveled outside of the country, and both are hospitalized and receiving treatment.
So far, 25 contacts have been identified and are under monitoring. Overall, 64 suspected cases have been reported and 62 have been tested, he added.
Community vaccination approach for DRC hot spots
Kaseya said the mpox vaccine has been well received in countries that have deployed the vaccine, including in the DRC. He said there is enough supply to shift the vaccine approach beyond contacts of contacts of confirmed cases to now cover whole regions where cases are reported.
Children have been among the most affected groups in parts of the DRC and Burundi, owing to household spread of the clade 1b virus. Doses of the LC16 vaccine from Japan, which can be used in young children, are in the DRC, and healthcare workers are being trained on how to administer it with a bifurcated needle.
Kaseya estimated that immunization with the vaccine will likely begin at the end of February or early March, adding that talks with Japan are under way about use of the vaccine in other affected countries.
Mpox treatment trial launches in DRC
In other developments, Africa CDC yesterday announced that the first patients have been enrolled in a trial to assess the safety and efficacy of brincidofovir, an antiviral from Emergent BioSolutions, as a treatment for mpox infection.
The agency said the first patients were enrolled at Mbandaka Hospital in the DRC's Equateur province. Researchers from an Africa-led pandemic preparedness group called PANTHER (Pandemic Preparedness Platform for Health and Emerging Infections Response) is leading the trial, which received support from Africa CDC along with initial funding from the European Union.