Testing New Tools To Fight Monkeypox Outbreaks in Democratic Republic of the Congo
During an outbreak of monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a young man shows his hands, which have the characteristic rash of monkeypox during the recuperative stage.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has one of the world’s highest rates of human monkeypox, a rare but serious re-emerging illness that kills up to 1 in 10 infected people. Because monkeypox is related to smallpox, NCEZID scientists are evaluating the effectiveness of a new smallpox vaccine to prevent infection in health care workers and laboratorians in DRC who are regularly exposed to monkeypox. The outcomes of this study will be instrumental in preventing outbreaks and saving lives where monkeypox is resurging.