The Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to experience an epidemic of monkey pox (formerly called monkeypox), which represents a risk to the population of the DRC, neighboring countries, and the entire world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) during a press conference on Friday, December 15, in Geneva.

From January 1 to mid-November 2023, the country has recorded more than 13,000 suspected cases of monkey pox and more than 600 deaths. This is the highest annual number of reported cases compared to the previous peak in 2020, during which more than 6,000 cases had been identified.

The WHO indicates that the epidemic is spreading geographically in 22 of the 26 provinces of the country, including in regions that were previously untouched by the virus.

The UN health agency recently carried out a mission in the DRC to assess the situation and support national authorities in responding to this epidemic.

"This is an extremely complex situation, given that the DRC is facing other urgent problems, including cholera and humanitarian crises," expressed concern Dr. Rosamund Lewis, technical lead for mpox at the WHO during a press briefing this Friday morning in Geneva. "Local and national health professionals are striving to respond to an epidemic that is geographically spreading and whose transmission is accelerating through sexual networks."

Only 9% of cases confirmed in the laboratory

Sexual transmission of the mpox virus has been documented for some time, notably during the epidemic that has been ongoing in Nigeria since 2017. Thus the WHO observes that the virus is now spreading through sexual networks that include both male and female sex workers and their clients in regions where the population is highly mobile.

The WHO is collaborating with the Congolese Ministry of Health to support the distribution of sample collection and transport kits to reference hospitals from suspected cases in Kinshasa, South Kivu, and other affected areas. At present, only 9% of mpox cases have been laboratory-confirmed, clarified Ms. Lewis to journalists in Geneva.

Closing the gaps in vaccine access

It is also essential to close the gaps in access to vaccines and therapeutic products, she indicated.

The epidemic in the DRC highlights the need for continuing global collaboration and coordination to control and ultimately eliminate interhuman transmission of mpox, the WHO representative insisted.

Earlier in the month, the United Nations Health Agency was informed of a suspected outbreak on a cruise ship whose route passed through Southeast Asia.

"We urge individuals, local health authorities, and organizers of cruises and other mass gatherings to continue to exchange information, raise public awareness, and take all necessary measures to mitigate the risk of a mpox outbreak," she insisted.

With UN News.


MMC / RO