DRC - Mpox (monkeypox) outbreak 2024

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DRC: In the East, health workers overwhelmed by the monkeypox epidemic

By Africanews Editorial
Last update: 1 hour ago

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, at the Kavumu health center in South Kivu, the situation is alarming. Faced with the monkeypox epidemic, health workers are overwhelmed by the number of patients.

The temporary tents set up to handle the influx of patients are full. Families are forced to settle on the ground, and health workers are overwhelmed by the situation. “The nursing team, the medical team is overwhelmed, so overwhelmed. And you see they are working beyond their physical capacity,” says Dr. Erick Mashimango, the monkeypox focal point at the Kavumu center.

The rapid spread of the disease has prompted health authorities to strengthen their collaboration with the Health Division to curb the outbreak. The demand for vaccines is particularly high. “The affected people themselves are asking for the vaccines. It would be desirable for the vaccines to be given urgently,” says Dr Mashimango.

With more than 20,000 suspected cases and 632 deaths since the beginning of the year, the DRC is facing a health crisis, which prompted the World Health Organization on August 14 to declare the epidemic an international public health emergency.

https://fr.africanews.com/2024/09/04/rdc-a-lest-les-travailleurs-de-sante-debordes-face-a-lepidemie-de-variole-du-singe/

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Kai Kupferschmidt

@kakape


"We expect the first delivery of vaccines to arrive in DRC tomorrow", says
@WHO
's
@DrTedros
in update on the #mpox situation. These are the vaccines donated by the EU Commission. "DRC's ministry of health plans to begin deploying the vaccines this weekend."
10:45 AM · Sep 4, 2024
·
3,465
Views

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MPOX epidemic: first delivery of vaccines expected Thursday in the DRC

By Le Figaro with AFP
Published 52 minutes ago

A first delivery of nearly 100,000 doses of MPOX vaccines is expected on Thursday, September 5 in the Republic of Congo (DRC), the country most affected by the epidemic, the director general of the African Union's health agency (Africa CDC) announced to AFP on Wednesday. "We are very happy with the arrival of this first batch of vaccines in the DRC. These are 99,100 doses that will arrive tomorrow, Thursday, September 5 at 12:10 p.m. at Kinshasa airport ," Jean Kaseya told AFP.

"We thank the European Union , through the European Health Emergency Response Authority, for immediately responding to our call for solidarity to ensure access to the MPOX vaccine in affected countries of the African Union ," he added. A vast country in Central Africa, the DRC has recorded more than 17,500 cases and 629 deaths since the beginning of the year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
...

https://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/epidemie-de-mpox-une-premiere-livraison-de-vaccins-attendue-jeudi-en-rdc-20240904

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Mpox: a first case confirmed in the Boma health zone

September 5, 2024

Boma, September 4, 2024 (ACP).- A first confirmed positive case of monkeypox (Mpox) was reported on Wednesday, in the Boma health zone in the Kongo Central province (South-West) of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the ACP learned from a health source.

"For two weeks now, there have been many alert cases that we have called suspected cases. And here the principle is that when a suspected case is reported to the general hospital or to a reference health center, a sample must be taken to send to the INRB. Now among the samples sent, we have been informed that there is a positive case. So already, Boma is also counted among the health zones in the Mpox epidemic that is raging across the country," said Serge Thamba, head doctor of the Boma health zone.

He said that all arrangements have been made for awareness raising and care of the sick. "We have community relays, a community facilitator, the media... And so we are raising awareness because it is a very contagious disease and we should not allow people to become infected en masse. The sick person is already being cared for and there are a lot of activities around him because we have to list the contacts who were with him and observe them," continued Mr. Thamba.

Mpox or monkey pox is a contentious viral disease that manifests itself by skin rashes over the entire body. To prevent it, it is recommended to avoid touching animals found dead, avoid contact with the secretions of infected people, wash your hands regularly and in case of contamination go to the hospital for adequate and safe care.

ACP/

https://acp.cd/sante/mpox-un-premier-cas-confirme-dans-la-zone-de-sante-de-boma/

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Kwilu: Mpox reaches 100 cases including 6 deaths

Thursday, September 5, 2024 - 08:01

The curve of Mpox cases remains ascending in the province of Kwilu. From Saturday August 24 (date of the official declaration) to Wednesday September 4, the cases increased from 34 to 100 and the affected areas increased from 7 to 11. And six deaths were recorded.

The health zones of Djuma, Mokala, Bandundu, etc. are the most affected. The interim Governor who provided the information, invited the population to refer to health structures, any suspicion of illness for health monitoring.

Félicien Kiway also called on heads of health and school establishments to install hand washing devices in their establishments and to mobilize for compliance with barrier gestures.

Kikwit Central Prison is the sensitive area affected by this disease with three cases recorded. In the Mokala health zone, a nurse died due to the lack of protective equipment, after treating a patient showing signs of the disease.

Jonathan Mesa in Bandundu

https://actualite.cd/index.php/2024/09/05/kwilu-le-mpox-atteint-la-barre-de-100-cas-dont-6-deces

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Mpox: worrying increase in the number of cases in North Ubangi

Thursday, September 5, 2024 - 09:59

At the 35th epidemiological week, the number of confirmed cases of Mpox increases from 18 to 117 in Nord-Ubangi. These figures were revealed this Wednesday, September 4 in Gbadolite by the provincial government. The province has so far had 8 deaths.

"Our province of Nord-Ubangi is not spared and has already reported, across its eleven health zones, 177 cases including 8 deaths since the beginning of 2024," said Jean-Pierre Kongoli, interim governor.

The authorities are informing the population about preventive measures against the epidemic.

"It is recommended to wash your hands regularly with soap and water or with hydroalcoholic gel; avoid any contact with sick people, dead bodies or contaminated surfaces; avoid handling and consuming meat from sick animals or animals found dead in the forest and in the community; avoid unprotected sex; get vaccinated as soon as vaccines are available,...", we can read in the press release made public by the minister the governor.

In North Ubangi, Mpox is particularly prevalent in the health zones of Abuzi, Bili, Businga, Loko, and Yakoma. The DRC is the country most affected by this epidemic in Africa. More than 600 people have already died from Mpox since the beginning of the year. The WHO announced the arrival of a vaccine against Mpox this Thursday in Kinshasa.

Didier Dutimo, in Gbadolite

https://actualite.cd/index.php/2024/...au-nord-ubangi

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WHO Africa@WHO_Africa

Today, 99,000 doses of #mpox vaccines were delivered to the #DRC . A donation from the European Commission's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority @EU_Commission . 101,000 additional doses are expected this weekend. With its partners, @WHO helps the #DRC to strengthen measures to contain the #mpox epidemic





8:01 AM · Sep 5, 2024

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Clade Ib Mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): clinical and virological report of the first case in Kinshasa, the capital city

MPXV
Sep 5
1 / 1
Sep 5
1d
Eddy_K.Lusamaki
1d
Since 2005, there have been eight public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) declarations. The tow last are related to mpox outbreaks, the first one from 2022-2023with clade IIb that spread globally in more than 100 countries and more recently since 14th august 2024 an outbreak with clade Ib (WHO, 2024). The current declaration followed the declaration of a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) by Africa CDC on August 13th and both were consecutive to the concerning expansion of outbreaks with clade in DRC, especially clade Ib, firstly described in September 2023 in Kamituga, a mining city in the South Kivu province and driven by transmission through sexual contact (Masirika et al., 2024; Vakaniaki et al., 2024; WHO, 2023). Since 2023, the number of mpox cases in DRC peaked above 14000 and were reported from new foci in large urban areas and transportation hubs, including Kinshasa (the capital city of the DRC). The first cases described in 2023 in the capital were all clade Ia which were linked to strains circulating in Equateur, Sud-Ubangi and Maindombe’s provinces (Kinganda Lusamaki et al., 2024). Here, we present a first case of mpox infection with clade Ib in Kinshasa, DRC.

On July 1st, 2024, we investigated a young adult woman in Ngiri-Ngiri health zone who presented mpox like lesions. The patient reported no contact with living or death animals nor consumption of meat (smoked). However, she reported an occasional sexual contact with a long-time friend in Kinshasa prior the start of the lesions. The casual partner who lives in Matadi, 360 kilometers west of Kinshasa, reported a rash 3 days after the lesions appeared on the young adult woman while he was already in South Africa where he received treatment.

The patient (young adult women) showed a polymorphism of dermatological lesions, with at least 300 counted, dominated by pustular and papular lesions, apart from a few bullous lesions on the soles of the feet. Rashes started to appear around the genital area and upper limb, and gradually spread throughout the body. The lesions were predominantly on the face, upper limbs, trunk and a particularly aspect in genital area. On the face and lower limbs, the lesions were pustular, umbilicated and mostly surmounted by crusty lesions; on the other hand, the same lesions were more or less tense on the extremities of the upper limbs. In the anogenital region, there were a few isolated opalescent bullous lesions on the inner surfaces of the labia majora, associated with a swelling mimicking lymphedema of the labia majora, slightly tender to palpation; while on the pubis, bullous lesions overhung the labia majora, extending slightly towards the left labia majora. An erythematous scaly placard covered almost the entire perineo-inguinocrural region, marked by whitish coatings at the bottom of two inguinocrural folds.

In general, mucous membranes were affected, except the oral mucosa. Eyes were affected, mainly the left eye which showed mucopurulent secretions adherent to the eyelashes. Diffuse conjunctival hyperemia was more marked on the left and discrete on the right. Palpebral statics were conserved; loupe examination of the right eye showed diffuse conjunctival hyperemia inferiorly, and a clear cornea; whereas on the left eye, mucopurulent secretions were abundant in the conjunctival dead end and adherent to the eyelashes. In addition, there was a subconjunctival para-limbic nodule, located in the supero-nasal quadrant, and two others in the supero- and infero-nasal quadrants. The Fluorescein test was positive on peri-limbal mucocorneal lesions and submucosal nodules. Fundus examination was normal in both eyes, after observation by a specialist ophthalmologist.

more.....

https://virological.org/t/clade-ib-mpox-in-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo-drc-clinical-and-virological-report-of-the-first-case-in-kinshasa-the-capital-city/978

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Mpox in the DRC: Everything you need to know about the vaccine – For whom, why, and when? Exclusive interview with Laurent Muschel

Friday, September 6, 2024 - 09:04

The DRC received the first doses of the Mpox vaccine on Thursday, September 5, 2024, marking an important step in the fight against this epidemic that is raging in several regions of the country. This vaccine, MVA-BN®, is part of the 215,000 doses acquired by the European Commission's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), and comes at a time when the resurgence of Mpox cases is worrying health authorities and the population.

To understand the challenges of this vaccination campaign, the logistical challenges and the distribution strategy, the editorial staff of Actualité.cd receives Laurent Muschel, Acting Director General and Head of HERA. In this exclusive interview, Mr. Muschel discusses the importance of this vaccine, its deployment in the DRC, and the long-term prospects for strengthening local vaccine production capacities.

Laurent Muschel talks with Emmanuel Kuzamba about the specificities of the vaccine, the target populations and the challenges of this unprecedented vaccination campaign in the country

Emmanuel Kuzamba:
Good morning Mr. Laurent Muschel. Today, the vaccines arrived in Kinshasa. What difficulties did you encounter in getting them here?

Laurent Muschel:
Let's say that we acted very quickly, since the declaration of a health emergency at the continental and international level was made by Africa CDC on August 14. In just over 15 days, the vaccines arrived. We had to negotiate and purchase the vaccines from the company Bavaria Nordic. We acquired all the available stocks to ship them here. But there were also constraints in terms of liability, preservation of the cold chain and customs clearance. It was a race against time to get them there so quickly.

Emmanuel Kuzamba:
About 100,000 doses of vaccines arrived today, and another 200,000 by the end of the week. What was this figure based on?

Laurent Muschel:
This was based on the available stocks of Bavaria Nordic. We were able to acquire the entire available stocks. They are now restarting production to supply additional doses.

Emmanuel Kuzamba:
How do you see the administration of this vaccine in the DRC, given the cases and potential contaminations that already exist?

Laurent Muschel:
The vaccination strategy is currently being finalized at the DRC Ministry of Health. The idea is to target the sources of contamination, particularly in family circles, and in regions where the virus is prevalent, such as South Kivu and Equateur. The Ministry of Health is working with partners such as UNICEF, Africa CDC and WHO to put in place micro-planning to deliver the vaccine to those who need it most.

Emmanuel Kuzamba:
Will the European Union continue its collaboration with the Congolese authorities to deliver this vaccine to the provinces concerned?

Laurent Muschel:
We are currently discussing additional funding with other European Commission services to support the government in delivering vaccines.

Emmanuel Kuzamba:
Why is this vaccine arriving now and not earlier, when the Congolese authorities warned about this disease several months ago?

Laurent Muschel:
This vaccine did not arrive late. It arrived after the declaration of continental emergency made by Africa CDC. We can only deploy vaccines when a global health emergency is declared.

Emmanuel Kuzamba:
Now that the vaccine has arrived, what is planned in terms of support for local vaccine production, particularly in the DRC, the epicenter of the disease?

Laurent Muschel:
Local production of vaccines is a longer-term goal. The European Union has supported the development of vaccine production capacities in Africa through the MAF+ project. We have invested more than €1.3 billion for this, including for mRNA vaccines. But for Mpox, it is a very specific vaccine, and we will see if other companies will develop vaccines.

Emmanuel Kuzamba:
The specificity of this vaccine is that it is currently only intended for adults. Can you confirm this?

Laurent Muschel:
Yes, absolutely. The vaccine is authorized in Europe and the United States for adults. The European Medicines Agency is currently studying data to see if it can be administered to adolescents aged 12 to 17, with a response expected by the end of the month. Clinical trials are also underway in the DRC to adapt the vaccine to children under 12.

Emmanuel Kuzamba:
Apart from children, are there other categories of people who are not eligible for this vaccine?

Laurent Muschel:
There are no real ineligible categories. Certain categories, such as healthcare workers in contact with patients, will be given priority.

Emmanuel Kuzamba:
Will the first doses be administered in Kinshasa or in another province?

Laurent Muschel:
It will depend on the authorities, but probably in the areas where the epidemic is strongest.

https://actualite.cd/2024/09/06/mpox-en-rdc-tout-savoir-sur-le-vaccin-pour-qui-pourquoi-et-quand-entretien-exclusif-avec