A larm bells  should be blaring about the growing mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where community organizations best positioned

Review: The Curious History of Life-Saving Viruses

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2024-11-17 23:00:03

A larm bells should be blaring about the growing mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where community organizations best positioned to prevent a wider outbreak or pandemic report a lack of funding and shortage of basic supplies. It was only in early October that limited quantities of vaccines reached some impacted communities. But health care and other frontline workers remain unprotected and under-resourced.

It’s as if the world had not just experienced a major pandemic, during which we painfully learned that a faster and more robust investment in early action and preventive measures could have slowed transmission and saved countless lives.

In August, the World Health Organization declared mpox a “public health emergency of international concern.” To date, there have been more than 100,000 documented cases across 123 countries. The numbers are likely higher due to limited testing and health care access for those impacted. In response, in September the White House announced a $500 million commitment to support African countries’ efforts to respond to and contain the disease. 

As cases continue to mount, the human and financial costs increase. For example, in August, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that $245 million was needed to respond to the outbreak. Months later, the amount needed is likely much higher. And, if the aftermath of past humanitarian disasters has taught us anything, sending all of the funds to any one central actor would be a grave mistake.

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