Pope Francis drew attention to the ongoing mpox outbreak, during his Sunday Angelus prayers in St. Peter’s Square, particularly highlighting its severe impact on the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to the AFP, he urged governments and the pharmaceutical industry to increase vaccine distribution to the hardest-hit countries.
“I pray for all those infected, especially the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who are so heavily affected,” the pope said. “I also express my solidarity with the local churches that have been most impacted by this disease.”
The World Health Organization recently declared the surge in mpox cases across the DRC and other African countries a global health emergency.
The organization has called for increased vaccine production and equitable distribution to combat the spread of the virus.
Pope Francis also appealed for collaboration between governments and private sectors, urging them to “share technology and available treatments so that nobody lacks appropriate medical care.”
Mpox, a virus known for decades, has seen a recent spike in cases due to a more deadly and transmissible strain, Clade 1b, which has emerged in the region.
According to WHO, Clade 1b has a mortality rate of approximately 3.6%, with children being particularly vulnerable.
The outbreak in the DRC has resulted in over 570 deaths this year alone, with further cases reported in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria, and Uganda since July. Last week, the first European case of the new strain was identified in Sweden.
The virus, which can be transmitted from animals to humans and through close human contact, continues to pose a significant public health challenge in affected regions.
Health experts, including gynaecologists, warn that infected pregnant women might transmit the virus to their babies, raising additional concerns for vulnerable populations.
