South Africa

 Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has received 10,000 doses of Mpox vaccine from the U.S. as part of the fight against the Mpox virus. The 10,000 doses of Jynneos vaccine, sent through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), were delivered to officials in the capital, Abuja. The delivery ceremony was attended by U.S. Ambassador to Abuja Richard Mills, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Daju Kachillom, and other guests. Ambassador Mills stated that the vaccines would support the Nigerian government’s response to the ongoing Mpox outbreak. Nigeria has reported 39 Mpox cases this year. To prevent the spread of the disease, the Nigerian government has prepared a health declaration form for international travelers. The African Union has declared a continent-wide public health emergency in response to the rapidly spreading Mpox virus in African countries. Mpox virus is transmitted from rodents such as rats and squirrels or from infected individuals. Key transmission methods include touching body lesions, using contaminated clothing or bedding, and contact with body fluids. Symptoms can appear 5 to 21 days after infection and include high fever, headaches, back and muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, chills, and a rash similar to chickenpox. There is no specific treatment for Mpox; antiviral medications are used, and most cases are mild, with recovery occurring within a few weeks. In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) renamed “monkeypox” to “mpox” to address concerns about racism and discrimination.