The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is currently facing its largest outbreak of the viral mpox disease, with tens of thousands infected and over 1,000 deaths as of June. The outbreak began in May 2022 and has since spread to 22 provinces, including the capital, Kinshasa. The disease is caused by the monkeypox virus and can be fatal, with symptoms including an itchy rash and fever. A new strain of the virus has been discovered in the town of Kamituga, where infections are being predominantly spread through sexual contact.
Health experts have identified two clades of the virus, with clade 1 being more severe and causing the current outbreak. Limited resources, ongoing conflict in the eastern region, and lack of public awareness pose significant challenges in tracking, treating, and monitoring cases. The WHO has highlighted the need for vaccines to help contain the outbreak, as well as the importance of regional cooperation to prevent the spread to other African countries.
Neighbouring countries, such as the Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and South Africa, have reported cases of the virus, but these are not directly linked to the DRC outbreak. Given the highly transient nature of the region and limited healthcare infrastructure across Africa, the outbreak underscores the importance of proactive measures to prevent further spread. Authorities in the DRC are in talks with other countries to procure more vaccines, as efforts to combat the outbreak continue.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com