Why the Democratic Republic of the Congo is struggling to contain mpox
Published on 20/09/2024 - 13:51 GMT+2
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a large central African country, is currently struggling to contain an outbreak of mpox.
More than 21,000 of the roughly 25,000 suspected mpox cases in Africa are in Congo, according to the most recent update from the World Health Organization (WHO). Outbreaks there also account for around 90 per cent of confirmed mpox cases.
The situation prompted the WHO last month to declare mpox a global health emergency, especially as a new strain of the virus spreads.
What is the situation in the DRC?
Mpox has been endemic for decades in the DRC, with the first human case of the virus reported there in 1970. Since then, there have been mostly small household and community outbreaks, Formerly known as monkeypox, it's from the same family of viruses as smallpox but causes milder symptoms such as fever. People may also get a rash and skin lesions.
It can be spread through direct contact with infected animals or close contact with an infected person.
Mpox spread to the eastern province of South Kivu in September 2023 and scientists identified a new strain that could be more infectious. It also spread to the neighbouring North Kivu.
Both eastern provinces face escalating violence and a humanitarian crisis.