The World Health Organization has declared the mpox outbreaks in Congo and elsewhere in Africa a global emergency, with cases confirmed among children and adults in more than a dozen countries and a new form of the virus spreading.

Few vaccine doses are available on the continent and may not arrive any time soon, owing to challenges such as limited vaccine supply, funding shortages, and other ongoing outbreaks remain obstacles.

Earlier this week, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that the mpoxoutbreaks were a public health emergency, with more than 500 deaths, and called for international help to stop the virus’ spread.

The Africa CDC previously said that mpox, also known as monkeypox, has been detected in 13 countries this year, and that more than 96% of all cases and deaths are in Congo.