Nearly 800,000 U.S.-funded mpox vaccine doses intended for African nations risk expiry in warehouses, 48 Democratic lawmakers warned Wednesday, urging urgent shipment to avoid waste.
Dozens of Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives have called on the State Department to act swiftly, warning that hundreds of thousands of mpox vaccine doses, meant for Africa, could expire unused. In a letter signed by 48 Democrats and led by Representatives Mark Pocan of Wisconsin and Sara Jacobs of California, lawmakers said about 800,000 doses are at risk, with 220,000 still viable if shipped immediately.
"This is a moral, strategic, and public health failure in the making," the letter read.
The U.S. State Department has yet to issue a response.
The vaccines were originally promised to African countries hit hard by the mpox outbreak, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda, and Burundi. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern in August 2024, following the spread of a new strain from the DRC.
Mpox, a viral disease that spreads through close contact, causes flu-like symptoms and painful lesions. While usually mild, it can be deadly. The WHO said last month that the crisis remains a global health emergency.
The situation has been further complicated by U.S. President Donald Trump’s sharp cuts to foreign aid. Since beginning his second term six months ago, Trump has downsized international assistance programmes, firing thousands of aid workers and pushing through $8 billion in aid reductions with backing from the Republican-controlled Congress.
Trump argues that the U.S. carries an unfair burden and has called on other nations to contribute more to humanitarian causes.
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Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has called for reparations over slavery and colonisation, urging global recognition of Africa’s historical injustices and dignity.
Three new sites in Africa have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Nigeria’s former president Muhammadu Buhari has died in London at the age of 82, a presidential spokesperson confirmed on Sunday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that several African nations are set to reduce tariffs and are not expected to face U.S. trade measures.
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Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
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Russia and Ukraine have completed a major prisoner exchange, marking one of the largest swaps since the start of the war. The deal was based on agreements made earlier in Istanbul.
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Senior diplomats from Iran, Russia and China convened in Tehran to coordinate their positions on Iran’s nuclear programme and Western sanctions ahead of upcoming negotiations in Istanbul.
Australia has made a further payment to the United States under the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed on Wednesday that a second instalment of $525 million has been paid, following an initial $500 million payment in February.
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