By Djaffar Al Katanty GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) -Congolese health officials launched their first mpox vaccination campaign on Saturday, a key step in efforts to contain an outbreak that has spread from its epicentre in the Democratic Republic of Congo to numerous other African nations this year.

The Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicentre of an mpox epidemic, launched a vaccination campaign against the virus on Saturday in the eastern city of Goma, AFP journalists said.I want to protect myself,

The Democratic Republic of Congo recorded nearly 1,000 deaths and more than 30,000 mpox cases. Starting next week the shots will be offered to the public.Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo said Saturday they had begun a vaccination campaign against mpox-- a virus that causes painful rashes and flu-like symptoms and in some cases can be deadly.

Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicentre of an mpox outbreak, will begin a vaccination campaign on Saturday, three days later than planned. President Joe Biden said last month that the United States plans to donate one million doses of the mpox vaccine to African nations facing an epidemic.