In response to the spread of the Mpox (monkeypox) virus from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to neighbouring countries, the European Commission announced on Tuesday 3 September that it was granting additional financial aid of €200,000 to the Burundi Red Cross. This funding is aimed at strengthening surveillance and case detection, as well as water, sanitation and health promotion initiatives.
This aid is in addition to the €1 million already allocated this year by the EU for smallpox prevention in the refugee camps around Goma in the DRC.
In addition, two European epidemiologists have been deployed to the DRC, the epicentre of the epidemic, which accounts for 92% of all cases in Africa.
Last July, the EU had already coordinated the purchase of 215,420 doses of Mpox vaccine for African countries (see EUROPE 13466/4). (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit)