DRC - Mpox (monkeypox) outbreak 2024

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DRC faces Monkeypox: 31,000 cases and 988 deaths recorded since the start of 2024, 70% of victims are children (Ministry of Health)

Saturday, October 5, 2024 - 1:05 p.m.

The Minister of Health, Hygiene and Prevention, Roger Kamba, has drawn up an alarming assessment of the Mpox epidemic raging in the Democratic Republic of Congo, calling on the population to respect barrier gestures to limit the spread of the virus.

"We are at 31,000 cases today with just over 988 deaths, and this since the beginning of 2024. We have cases reported in almost all provinces, with some more affected than others. There are two types of viruses circulating: type 1 virus (Clade 1 A), which we have always known, which evolves in peri-forest areas, particularly in the North, and then there is this mutation with virus 1B which evolves rather in the Eastern zone. The latter, which is transmitted more sexually, has a much faster capacity to spread due to very discreet symptoms at the beginning, which means that people do not realize it before contaminating others. Another very important fact is that children are the most affected, often contaminated by adults, and unfortunately, they are the ones who die the most. "We note that nearly 70% of deaths concern children under 5 years old," declared Roger Kamba.

And to add:

"This puts enormous pressure on our health system, because it is essential to save our children as quickly as possible. Beyond the barrier gestures that we know - washing our hands regularly, disinfecting with hydroalcoholic products, avoiding any close contact with sick people, especially the sharing of objects such as clothes, sheets - there is active protection which is vaccination, in order to limit the spread of the virus," he concluded.

The Minister of Health also announced that the Mpox vaccination campaign will begin this Saturday, October 5 in the eastern provinces, particularly in North Kivu and South Kivu, with adults at the forefront of vaccination.

The Health Minister also announced that the country is expecting to receive 4,500 screening tests from the World Health Organization (WHO) and 3,500 tests from Africa CDC. This is to improve the identification of MPOX cases and differentiate the disease from other conditions.

Currently, all 26 provinces of the DRC are affected by Mpox, with a particularly high case fatality rate in the provinces of Equateur, South Kivu, South Ubangi, Sankuru, Tshuapa, Mongala and Tshopo.

Last August, the Congolese government announced the release of an emergency fund, estimated at between 6 and 10 million US dollars, to support the immediate fight against the Mpox epidemic.

As a reminder, the African Union Health Agency (Africa CDC) has officially declared the monkeypox (Mpox) outbreak a "public health emergency" due to the rapid increase in cases in Africa.

Grace Guka

https://actualite.cd/2024/10/05/rdc...88-deces-enregistres-depuis-debut-2024-70-des

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Goma: Launch of the vaccination campaign against Mpox in North Kivu

Published on Sun, 06/10/2024 - 13:45 | Modified on Sun, 06/10/2024 - 13:45

Goma kicked off the first phase of vaccination against Mpox, aiming to immunize 48,000 people, on Saturday, October 5. The Chief of Staff of the Minister of Health officially launched this campaign in the presence of local health authorities, with the hope of breaking the chain of transmission of the monkeypox virus (Mpox). This campaign will initially focus on the most affected areas of the province, namely Goma, Karisimbi and Nyiragongo, from October 7 to 10.

North Kivu continues to grapple with the spread of Mpox, with 369 confirmed cases and two deaths to date. According to the governor's health advisor, 14 of the province's 34 health zones are now affected, including Goma, Karisimbi and Nyiragongo, which are the epicenter of the outbreak.

She recalled the urgency of the situation: "The mortality rate being 5 to 25% with an average of 10%, this disease therefore deserves the special attention of everyone and requires the commitment of all social sectors for an effective concerted response. Let us get vaccinated and respect hygiene measures, and we will surely contribute to breaking the chain of transmission."

Over three days, the campaign will target the most vulnerable groups: health workers, war displaced persons, butchers, sex workers, as well as agents at entry and control points, and veterinarians. Adults will receive two doses, while children under 18 will receive only one.​

https://www.radiookapi.net/2024/10/...ne-de-vaccination-contre-la-mpox-au-nord-kivu

 

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The Democratic Republic of the Congo kicks off mpox vaccination

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05 October 2024

Kinshasa – The Democratic Republic of the Congo today kicked off mpox vaccination, adding a vital measure to complement the ongoing outbreak control efforts to halt the spread of the viral disease and save lives.

The vaccination, launched in the eastern North Kivu province, will prioritize health workers and frontline responders, contacts of confirmed cases, contacts of those contacts, and other at-risk groups. The vaccination will subsequently be rolled out in 11 of the most affected health zones in Equateur, North Kivu, Sankuru, South Kivu, Sud-Ubangi and Tshopo provinces.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has received 265 000 doses of the MVA-BN vaccine donated by the European Commission's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the United States Government.

“As we rally efforts to stop the mpox outbreak, the rollout of the vaccine marks an important step in limiting the spread of the virus and ensuring the safety of families and communities,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Vaccines are an important additional tool in outbreak control and we’re grateful to our partners who have donated the doses. We’re working closely with the national authorities to effectively deliver the vaccines to those who need them most.”

WHO recommends that vaccination be implemented as part of a comprehensive response that includes enhanced surveillance, community engagement, contact tracing, public health and social measures, and appropriate case management. WHO and partners are working closely with the national authorities to scale up and reinforce all the key control measures to save lives and end the outbreak.

To further strengthen the ongoing outbreak response, more than 300 WHO experts supporting polio eradication efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been integrated in the mpox response. The experts have extensive field experience in public health, particularly in community-based and health-facility active surveillance, case investigations, contact tracing and risk communication, and have been at the forefront in the fight against polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

In preparations for the mpox vaccination, WHO has supported the national health authorities in a range of areas, including training of health workers; enhancing vaccine delivery systems and infrastructure such as vaccine storage and transportation; community engagement; as well as ensuring supervision and evaluation of the process for quality vaccine delivery. Efforts are also ongoing to reinforce measures to identify and address vaccine mis- and disinformation and engage with community and religious leaders to increase access to accurate information.

Mpox vaccines are currently in short supply, especially in Africa. In September 2024, WHO added the MVA-BN as the first mpox vaccine to its prequalification list, a step that is expected to facilitate timely and increased access to this vital product in communities with urgent need, to reduce transmission and help contain the outbreak.

WHO is working with partners, including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and UNICEF, to establish a distribution mechanism for doses being donated by other countries as well as from direct procurements from the vaccine manufacturer.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has reported more than 30 000 suspected and laboratory-confirmed cases, and 990 deaths since the start of 2024 – accounting for 90% of the cases reported from 15 countries in the African region so far this year.​


https://www.afro.who.int/countries/...ic of Congo&name=Democratic Republic of Congo
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Ituri: 6 suspected cases of Mpox reported in Mambasa

Posted on Oct. 08, 2024 at 9:59 pm

The territory of Mambasa, in Ituri province, has already reported 6 cases of the Mpox epidemic.

It was Jean-Baptiste Muyapandi, administrator of the said territory, who announced it in an awareness press release sent to Media Congo press (MCP) on Tuesday, October 8, 2024.

Based on data from the Mambasa health zone, the territorial authority affirmed that samples from these cases are already sent to Kinshasa for examination at the National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB).

In this communication, the senior commissioner Jean-Baptiste Muyapandi thus invited the community to become aware in order to protect themselves and others against this epidemic. “Our territory of Mambasa is already among the territories already affected. We are called upon to block the road to the spread of this disease,” he insisted.

It should be noted that the territory of Mambasa borders the provinces of Haut-Uele and Tshopo already affected by Mpox.

RLK/Correspondent in Ituri

https://www.congo-press.com/provinces/ituri-6-cas-suspects-de-mpox-notifies-a-mambasa/

 

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Mpox in Kwilu: 9 deaths out of more than 200 cases recorded

Thursday, October 10, 2024 - 06:44

Kwilu province continues to record cases of Mpox. Since the outbreak was declared in 2024, 220 cases have been reported, including 9 deaths. The provincial Minister of Health, Arnold Kapalati, said that some cases have been cured thanks to the care organized in health facilities.

Kwilu is not among the provinces scheduled to begin vaccination activities. The provincial Minister of Health, during a press interview, urged the population to respect hygiene rules and report any suspected cases for timely treatment.

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 Kikwit

https://actualite.cd/2024/10/10/mpox-au-kwilu-9-morts-sur-plus-de-200-cas-enregistres

 

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Mpox-DRC: 5 million doses of vaccine expected in November in Kinshasa

October 16, 2024

Kinshasa, October 16, 2024 (ACP).- 5,000,000 additional doses of Mpox vaccine are expected in November in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to expand vaccination in other provinces, the ACP learned on Wednesday, during the briefing organized by the Public Health Emergency Operations Center (Cousp).

"The DRC is expecting 5 million doses of Mpox vaccine until mid-November from the United States of America, the EU and Japan to expand vaccination in unvaccinated provinces ," said Mr. Maurice Ilunga of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI).

Mr. Ilunga said that for the vaccination of children, the country has not yet received the appropriate vaccines. “ We have to wait for the next supply to be able to plan the vaccination of children,” he said.

He recalled that to date the country has already received more than 260,000 doses of vaccine which have made it possible to start with the provinces selected in the first block while waiting for other allocations of more or less 5 million doses announced to the country which will come before the end of the year.

Furthermore, the Cousp coordinator, Dr Christian Ngandu indicated that vaccination as part of the Mpox response took into account 6 provinces and 11 health zones were planned.

Today, he said, 5 out of 6 provinces have already started vaccination against Mpox. These are the provinces of South Kivu, North Kivu, Equateur, Sankuru and Tshopo. The province of Sud-Ubangi will launch vaccination this Thursday, October 17.

"We are very satisfied with the results because more than 20,000 people, or 45% of the target according to macro planning, have been vaccinated ," he said.

This doctor said that there are discussions underway to see how to extend vaccination against Mpox in Kinshasa.

More than 900 deaths reported since the beginning of the year

More than 900 deaths due to Mpox or monkeypox have been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the beginning of 2024 until the 41st epidemiological week (from October 6 to 12, 2024), according to a report from the Public Health Emergency Operations Center (Cousp), published Wednesday in Kinshasa.

"Since the beginning of the year until the 41st epidemiological week, the DRC has reported 32,297 suspected cases, 6,016 confirmed cases and 943 deaths ," we read in this report.

The epidemiological situation of Mpox by province is as follows: South Kivu (8,363 suspected cases, 3,555 confirmed cases and 26 deaths); Equateur (6,991 suspected cases, 826 confirmed cases and 370 deaths); Sankuru (2,656 suspected cases, 101 confirmed cases and 127 deaths); Sud-Ubangi (3,571 suspected cases, 164 confirmed cases and 40 deaths); Tshopo (1,696 suspected cases, 156 confirmed cases and 79 deaths; Tshuapa (1,544 suspected cases, 294 confirmed cases and 90 deaths); Bas-Uele (1,309 suspected cases, 9 confirmed cases and 69 deaths); Mongala (1,121 suspected cases, 46 confirmed cases and 45 deaths); Kinshasa (841 suspected cases, 254 confirmed cases and 3 deaths); Kasaï (702 suspected cases, 9 confirmed cases and 27 deaths); Maï-Ndombe (657 suspected cases, 357 confirmed cases and 2 deaths); Nord-Kivu (654 suspected cases, 127 confirmed cases and 42 deaths); Kongo Central (386 suspected cases, 14 confirmed cases and 1 death); Maniema (288 suspected cases, 9 confirmed cases and 7 deaths); Nord-Ubangi (282 suspected cases, 53 confirmed cases and 2 deaths); Kwilu (229 suspected cases, 16 confirmed cases and 7 deaths); Kwango (191 suspected cases, 3 confirmed cases and 2 deaths); Tanganyika (104 suspected cases, 12 confirmed cases and zero deaths; Haut-Lomami (88 suspected cases, zero confirmed cases and 1 death); Haut-Uele (72 suspected cases, 2 confirmed cases and 3 deaths); Haut-Katanga (71 suspected cases, zero confirmed cases and one death); Lomami (51 suspected cases, 2 confirmed cases and zero deaths); Kasaï Central (45 suspected cases, 4 confirmed cases and zero deaths); Lualaba (45 suspected cases), 2 confirmed cases and zero deaths); Ituri (36 suspected cases, one confirmed case and zero deaths); Kasaï Oriental (13 suspected cases, 1 confirmed and zero deaths).

ACP/ODM

​https://acp.cd/sante/mpox-rdc-5-millions-de-doses-de-vaccin-attendues-en-novembre-a-kinshasa/

 

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Haut-Katanga records its first cases of Mpox

Published on Thu, 10/24/2024 - 3:46 PM | Modified on Thu, 10/24/2024 - 3:46 PM

The province of Haut-Katanga has recorded its very first cases of monkeypox (Mpox). The announcement was made on Wednesday, October 23 by the provincial interim Minister of Health, Valérienne Mumba Kiboko.

She recalled the different symptoms and modes of contamination of this disease. Valérienne Mumba Kibokoa also called on the entire population to be vigilant in order to combat the spread of Mpox.

"Our province of Haut-Katanga has just reported two confirmed cases. To protect ourselves against this disease, the provincial government recommends avoiding any physical or sexual contact with anyone showing signs of Mpox or any other excretion or liquid from sick people. Avoid any direct contact with a sick domestic or wild animal or its product. In case of contact with a sick person or an animal suspected of Mpox, immediately wash your hands with soap or ash, then go to the nearest health center, avoid handling the bodies of patients who died from Mpox," recommended Valérienne Mumba Kiboko.

And for the care of patients suffering from monkeypox, the provincial government guarantees free care in the general reference hospitals of the 27 health zones located in the municipalities and territories of the province.

https://www.radiookapi.net/2024/10/...t-katanga-enregistre-ses-premiers-cas-de-mpox

 

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WHO welcomes success of Mpox vaccination in 6 provinces of the country

Published on Thu, 10/24/2024 - 8:52 PM | Modified on Thu, 10/24/2024 - 8:52 PM

The vaccination campaign against Mpox in the DRC is a success in the provinces where it is taking place, said the WHO representative in the DRC, Dr Boureima Hama Sambo, on Thursday, October 24.

On Radio Okapi, he noted that there are provinces in the country that have reached 100% of what was targeted during this first dose of vaccine against Mpox including Sankuru, Sud-Ubangi, Tshopo.

" More than 90% of the target has already been vaccinated with this first dose. It is an immunization vaccine that takes place in two doses. There was a first dose and after a month there will be a move to the second dose so that the vaccinated person is considered immune. If we are at 90% across these six provinces, we can say that the campaign was a success ," says Dr. Boureima Hama Sambo.

He indicated that this first targeted three targets, namely: caregivers, sex workers and contacts of contacts.

WHO says it faces logistical challenges due to lack of roads and other basic infrastructure in the provinces where vaccination is taking place.

At least 3 million doses of Mpox vaccines are expected in the DRC by the end of this year.

https://www.radiookapi.net/2024/10/...e-vaccination-contre-le-mpox-dans-6-provinces

 

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Kongo-Central: 457 suspected cases of Mpox including 18 confirmed in 10 months

Published on Mon, 10/28/2024 - 10:15 | Modified on Mon, 10/28/2024 - 12:07

Four hundred and fifty-seven suspected cases, including 18 confirmed cases of Mpox, were monitored in ten months in the province of Kongo-Central.

The Provincial Health Division (DPS) revealed these figures in the epidemiological bulletin published last weekend in Matadi.

According to this document, 25 health zones are affected by Mpox out of the 31 in Kongo-central.

The Boma branch of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has however specified that the former Bas-Fleuve district is the most affected, with 13 confirmed cases alone since the start of this epidemic in the province.

Dr Bonheur Thsiteku, head of the provincial health division, attributes this high rate of monkeypox cases to the presence of the Mayombe forest, where the population lives mainly from hunting, ignoring the preventive measures issued by the health authorities.

People in this part of the country handle dead animals and eat undercooked bush meat, the doctor said.

As part of the control of this disease and the fight against its spread, the provincial coordination teams received, last week, a donation from the WHO in laboratory sample collection kits.

Currently, these teams are carrying out community awareness raising in the 4 health zones with a high prevalence of Mpox including that of Kangu in Lukula.

https://www.radiookapi.net/2024/10/...suspects-de-mpox-dont-18-confirmes-en-10-mois

 

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DRC: more than 1,000 deaths due to Mpox recorded since the beginning of 2024 (Minister of Health)

October 29, 2024

Kinshasa, October 28, 2024 (ACP).- 1,049 deaths due to monkeypox or (Mpox) have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since the beginning of 2024, the ACP learned on Monday from an official source.

" To date, 38,185 suspected cases of Mpox have been recorded, including 8,607 confirmed and 1,049 deaths recorded since the beginning of 2024 ," said Dr. Roger Samuel Kamba, Minister of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare, during the weekly meeting on the epidemiological situation of Mpox.

The Minister of Public Health met on this occasion with technical and financial partners as well as stakeholders to support the response against Mpox, stating on this occasion that 47,547 people have been vaccinated, or 103% of the target. " The vaccination campaign has ended in three of the six targeted provinces, namely Equateur, North Kivu, South Kivu, South Ubangi, Sankuru and Tshopo ," he said.

Furthermore, Minister Kamba noted last week that the country has experienced a significant reduction in the fatality rate of this disease, which went from 1.20% in week 41 to 0.0014% this week (week 42). At the same time, he instructed surveillance teams to strengthen barrier measures, in order to prevent any introduction of the Marburg virus disease epidemic that is raging in Rwanda. Two months after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Mpox a " Health Emergency of International Concern ", the DRC launched its vaccination campaign on October 5 in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, identified as risk areas.

A new variant with higher transmission

Spreading through contact with infected animals and, since its recent mutation, through close contact between people, Mpox has been endemic in Central and West Africa since the 1970s, but has spread rapidly around the world in 2022-2023, with tens of thousands of cases linked to the West African variant, identified in more than 110 countries.

In the DRC, the number of cases tripled in 2023, with more than 14,600 suspected cases reported and 654 deaths. In 2024, the situation has worsened further. Since January, the country has recorded 38,185 suspected cases, including 8,607 confirmed and 1,049 deaths, according to the latest report from the Ministry of Health. Previously, in this region of Africa, smallpox outbreaks were mainly linked to zoonotic transmission ( from animals ).

But today, the disease has been transmitted from human to human (via sexual intercourse or sustained family contact, for example) in a sustained manner for months, without any animals being involved.

This new transmission is due to a variant of the Mpox strain endemic in the DRC. The disease has been recorded in the camps for displaced people around Goma, in North Kivu, where the extreme population density and promiscuity make the situation very critical. ACP/

https://acp.cd/sante/rdc-plus-de-1-...stres-depuis-debut-2024-ministre-de-la-sante/

 

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Equateur: only 2 out of 18 health zones vaccinated against Mpox (Provincial Ministry of Health)

Saturday, November 2, 2024 - 9:25 p.m.

According to the provincial Minister of Health of the city of Mbandaka, capital of the province of Equateur, vaccination against the Mpox epidemic has been stagnating for some time. According to Doctor Didier Ibenge, only the populations of two health zones out of the 18 in the province have been vaccinated, namely the zones of Bikoro and Lotumbe.

The health official of this province says that all health zones in the city are affected by this Mpox epidemic and is outraged to see that a large part of the population has not yet been vaccinated. He calls on the authorities in the sector to increase vaccination coverage and set up local Mpox centers.

"We are surrounded by forests and what happens there is not controlled. Epidemics circulate and, since we visit the forest all the time and consume wild game, this exposes us to several epidemics. Currently, in Equateur, we are the epicentre of Mpox. I think Equateur has maybe half of the Mpox cases in the DRC. Almost all the health zones in Equateur are affected. We have a framework called WorldHealth that addresses human health, animal health and the environment. But when we take action, it is only for human health. For animal health and the environment, they are not taken into account. People visit the forest all the time and awareness is becoming a serious problem. We also have a problem with medicines. We are now in the framework of universal health coverage, which means that health structures must be close to the population. Here, you will see that a patient with Mpox must travel 10 to 15 km to reach the nearest health center. The question arises: how many contacts and infected people are there on the way? We can't even count them. And, surprisingly, once you get to the health center, there are no medicines. The health centers against Mpox do not have enough medicines. We received a donation from the head of state, but it does not meet the needs," said Didier Mbula Ibenge, provincial health minister of Equateur.

And to add:

"We have 18 health zones concerned, but only two, Bikoro and Lotumbe, are vaccinated, and we will return there in four weeks for the second phase. But now, there is the movement of the population. We go into the forest, we consume game at any time. We must also understand that it has become a sexually transmitted disease, which is very worrying. We are calling on national authorities and partners to mobilize resources and get involved in order to put an end to this disease in the province of Équateur," he concluded.

To help the population protect themselves against Mpox, the provincial Minister of Health of Mbandaka says he is carrying out awareness-raising actions to encourage the adoption of the vaccine and barrier gestures.

At the Makila Bolonjua port, where all the shuttles from the city of Mbandaka pass, the administrator of this trading place says she applies strict and preventive measures in the sale of game from the forest and other edible products considered dangerous.

"In this large port, I receive people from all categories. Last week, health workers came to raise awareness and check the meats. Those that are infected are seized, and those in good condition are kept. We also raise awareness among traders to be careful about what they buy and sell, by giving them some notions of hygiene. But the inhabitants of Mbandaka are often recalcitrant. When we seize goods that are not in good condition, especially meat from the forest, they consider it a hassle. For our part, we will continue to raise awareness and prohibit the sale of expired food. We simply ask the authorities to provide us with equipment such as hand washes and hydroalcoholic gels to mitigate the spread of the disease," said Bébé Bolinga Amba, administrator of the Makila market.

For his part, a fisherman from the port of Makila deplores the inaction of the provincial authorities and points out that they are exposed daily to several diseases due to the lack of vaccination and appropriate care tools.

“We work here every day on board fishing vessels, and sometimes we see passengers with strange symptoms, even drowning deaths. All this exposes us to many diseases. Mpox vaccinators have not yet arrived here. We are calling on provincial and national authorities to intensify vaccination coverage, otherwise we will continue to record more cases of Mpox,” said José Ewele Bosongo.

According to figures from the Expanded Vaccination Program (EPI) of the Mbandaka branch, since the start of the Mpox epidemic, the province has recorded 7,006 cases and 370 deaths.

Grace Guka, from Mbandaka

https://actualite.cd/2024/11/02/equ...cinees-contre-la-mpox-ministere-provincial-de

 

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Cases of new mpox strain more than double among children in DR Congo and Burundi since emergency declared

13 Nov 2024 Burundi Democratic Congo
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KINSHASA, 13 November 2024 –
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The fast-moving clade 1b strain has disproportionately affected children in the DRC – the epicentre of the outbreak - and in Burundi, where they face severe health risks due to hunger, displacement, and limited healthcare. These two countries account for 92% of all mpox cases in Africa this year.

As of 3 November, cases among children in the DRC had increased by over 130% from about 11,300 suspected cases to 25,600, while in Burundi, mpox has risen from 89 confirmed child cases to around 1,100 since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on 14 August.

The overall risk to the population in the DRC and Burundi remains critically high but particularly to children who are nearly four times more likely to die from the new strain of mpox than adults.
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Dr. Katia Vieira de Moraes LaCasse, Save the Children’s Senior clinical manager at the Emergency Health Unit, said:

"This new mpox variant is still poorly understood, but we do know it is moving quickly between children, especially in the DRC and Burundi, who are already facing severe risks from conflict-driven or climate-driven hunger and collapsing healthcare. As mpox spreads across Europe and other parts of the world, the world must not turn its back on children caught at the heart of this outbreak.
...

https://www.savethechildren.net/new...ldren-dr-congo-and-burundi-emergency-declared

 

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Monkeypox (MPox) in the DRC: more than 50,000 people vaccinated in the first phase

Published on Fri, 11/15/2024 - 11:58 | Modified on Fri, 11/15/2024 - 12:02

More than 50,000 people have been vaccinated in the first phase of the monkeypox (MPOX) vaccination campaign in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Minister of Public Health, Hygiene and Prevention, Roger Kamba, announced these figures during a press conference this Thursday, November 14 in Kinshasa. He specifies that the DRC has recorded in total this year more than 40 thousand people infected with MPOX, including approximately 1,130 deaths.

He also announced that this operation will enter its second phase and will expand in the country with the arrival, on Thursday, November 14, of a batch of 100,000 doses of vaccine, donated by the German government.

"The number of suspected cases, we exceeded 42 thousand in the 45th week. And we have exceeded 1130 deaths approximately for the whole country since the beginning of the year. This Mpox virus, with this sexual contamination, showed a difference and increased the number of cases a lot. The difference is that the one we knew before almost quickly gave generalized spots which meant that the contamination was limited because we saw the sick with spots everywhere so we were a little afraid", indicated Samuel oger Kamba

The press conference on Thursday, November 14 marks the end of the first phase of the monkeypox vaccination campaign in the DRC. Thus, the 51,000 people already vaccinated are waiting to receive a second dose during the second phase of the operation.

Minister Kamba finally indicated that the country has just over 200 thousand doses of monkeypox vaccine (Mpox).

https://www.radiookapi.net/2024/11/...dc-plus-de-50-000-personnes-vaccinees-dans-la

 

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DRC: nearly 500 suspected cases of Mpox reported in the 46th epidemiological week

November 19, 2024

Kinshasa, November 19, 2024 (ACP) .- Four hundred and seventy-eight suspected cases of Mpox, fifty-six laboratory-confirmed cases and one death were reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the 46th epidemiological week, from November 11 to 16, 2024, we learned from a press release on Tuesday.

"During the 46th week , from November 11 to 16, 2024, the DRC reported 478 suspected cases of Mpox, 56 confirmed cases and 1 death ," read the press release from the Public Health Emergency Operations Center (Cousp) of the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) consulted Tuesday by the ACP

According to the source, during this period, there was a predominance of cases reported in the provinces of South Kivu, North Kivu and Tshuapa, which recorded around 70% of suspected cases.

"This gives us a partial cumulative total, from week 1 to week 46 of 2024, of 45,902 suspected cases notified for 10,309 confirmed cases and 1,160 deaths with an overall lethality of suspected cases of 2.52% among and an overall lethality of confirmed cases of 0.42%," the document specified.

The same source noted some activities in response to the Mpox epidemic, including the continuation of vaccination in the Kokolo health zone in Kinshasa, the revision of the vaccination plan according to the new strategy in progress, the briefing of Kinshasa providers, preparations for the second vaccination round in the health zones of the first block and the receipt of 100,000 doses of vaccine from Germany.

As a reminder, the province of Equateur vaccinated 5,431 people, North Kivu 13,414, South Kivu 22,918, South Ubangi 5,500 and Tshopo 2,184.

Furthermore, the coordinator of the Public Health Emergency Operations Center (Cousp), Dr. Christian Ngandu, said in the same press release that during the strategic coordination meeting of the Mpox response in the DRC, chaired by the Secretary General of Public Health, representing the Minister of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Security, instructions were given to all provinces regarding their alignment with regard to their response to the epidemiological situation which tends to decline in the two epidemiological weeks 45 and 46.

But efforts must be redoubled to maintain the trend with the deployment of multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary teams in Kinshasa so that the epidemic in the capital of the DRC is controlled. ACP/CL

https://acp.cd/sante/rdc-pres-500-cas-suspects-de-mpox-notifies-a-la-46eme-semaine-epidemiologique/
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North Kivu: five cases of Mpox reported to Beni central prison

November 19, 2024

Beni, November 19, 2024 (ACP) .- Five cases of Mpox have been reported since Sunday, November 17, 2024 at the central prison of Beni located in the health area of ​​Mabolio, commune of Beu-Beni, in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the ACP learned on Tuesday from an administrative source.

"The city of Beni now records five cases of Mpox, cases reported in the Mabolio health area, precisely in the central prison of Beni-Kangbayi," said in an interview with the ACP, the senior commissioner and mayor of the municipality of Beu-Beni, Lambert Tshingoma Mukendi.

The municipal authority called on its citizens to strictly observe barrier measures by respecting hygiene rules to prevent this viral disease. These data were collected by the municipal services assigned to the central prison of Beni. ACP/CL

https://acp.cd/sante/nord-kivu-cinq-cas-de-mpox-notifies-a-la-prison-centrale-de-beni/

 

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Haut-Uele Province
/https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haut-U%C3%A9l%C3%A9
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Translation Google​

Haut-Uélé: a first suspected case of Mpox reported in Faradje

November 22, 2024

Isiro, November 22, 2024 (ACP).- A first suspected case of Mpox was recorded in the Faradje health zone, more precisely in Tadu, Haut-Uélé province, in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the ACP learned on Friday from a health source.

"We were alerted by the presence of a very first case of Mpox in Tadu, in the Faradje health zone. The team that investigated noted from the signs that the patient presented that it was indeed a suspected case of Mpox, before the sample taken was sent to the INRB," said Dr. Bienvenue Mogodi Malara, head doctor of the Faradje health zone. "May the population not panic or become agitated, may they remain calm. We want everyone to be able to continue to observe the barrier measures ," he said. According to this doctor, this is the only case that has been reported in the Faradje health zone since the appearance of the Mpox epidemic in the DRC in general and in the Haut-Uélé province in particular.

ACP/CL

https://acp.cd/nation/haut-uele-un-premier-cas-suspect-de-mpox-notifie-a-faradje/

 

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North Kivu: 25 cases of Mpox confirmed in the Butembo DPS

29.11.2024
Provinces

A total of 25 confirmed cases of MPox have been documented in the Provincial Health Division (DPS) branch of Butembo, in North Kivu province. These statistics were given on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 in Butembo, during a briefing with the press.

According to Mumbere Luhavo Damaze, communicator of the DPS branch of Butembo, there is also one death, or 4% as a fatality rate. 7 health zones are already affected out of the 17 that make up the Provincial Health Division. The health zones of Mutwanga and Beni occupy the first position of the affected health entities.

"The number of health zones in the far north is 7 health zones including Mutwanga with 10 confirmed cases and there, it is precisely at the level of the health area of ​​Kasanga, Kangauka towards Kasindi Lubiriha; the health zone which is in second position, is that of Beni with 5 confirmed cases and there, it was last week that 5 cases were confirmed at the central prison of Kangbayi; the third position is the health zone of Kyondo. Here, the cumulative total is 5 confirmed cases with 1 death; for the fourth position, it is the health zone of Katwa in the city of Butembo which includes the communes of Bulengera and Mususa where we have already had to record 2 confirmed cases; the fifth position is the health zone of Alimbongo where we have already recorded 1 confirmed case; the sixth zone is that of Manguredjipa which has already recorded 1 confirmed case; and the last area is Vuhovi with 1 confirmed case,” said Mumbere Luhavo Damaze.

Faced with the surge in Mpox cases, the DPS calls on the community to fight effectively against this disease, in particular by strengthening barrier measures including proper hand washing with soap or alcohol gel, avoiding having sexual relations with a person who has signs of the disease, not touching the sheets, clothes and utensils of someone who is sick, not handling or eating the meat of a dead animal, getting vaccinated, not touching the bodies of people who died of Mpox, using a condom for every casual sexual encounter.

Delphin Mupanda (Correspondent in North Kivu)
congo-press.com (MCP) / mediacongo.net

https://www.mediacongo.net/article-...as_de_mpox_confirmes_dans_la_dps_butembo.html

 

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Mpox: WHO extends state of health emergency, DRC still at the top of most affected countries

Saturday, November 30, 2024 - 10:55 p.m.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Committee has decided to maintain the monkeypox (MPox) outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern. This decision, made public on 28 November, follows the second meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee held on 22 November, which focused on the 2024 Mpox resurgence in Africa.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus explained that the decision was necessary because of the continued increase in cases and their geographical spread, ongoing operational challenges, and the need for a coordinated response among countries and partners. He said the situation had become more complex since the last meeting in August 2024, requiring an international response to prevent further spread, particularly in countries where the number of cases remains low.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains the country most affected by the epidemic, followed by Burundi and Nigeria. According to the DRC Ministry of Health, the country has recorded 49,056 reported cases since the beginning of 2024, including 10,846 confirmed cases and 1,193 deaths. During week 47, 893 suspected cases were reported, including 42 confirmed cases. No deaths were reported among confirmed cases, but nine deaths were recorded among suspected cases, bringing the case fatality rate from 0.21% (week 46) to 1% (week 47).

To intensify the fight against Mpox, the WHO Emergency Committee recommended providing clinical, nutritional and psychosocial support to patients, mobilizing domestic and international funding for prevention and response activities, and strengthening risk communication and community engagement. The committee also called for targeted vaccination campaigns in critical areas, increased surveillance and cross-border collaborations to manage suspected cases and their contacts.

Since 14 August 2024, WHO, in partnership with the Africa Centre for Disease Surveillance and Prevention (Africa CDC), had already classified Mpox as a public health emergency due to the intensification of the epidemic on the African continent.

Grace Guka

https://actualite.cd/2024/11/30/mpo...ire-la-rdc-toujours-en-tete-des-pays-les-plus
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Mpox in the DRC: The Ministry of Health reassures on the stabilization of suspected cases

Friday, December 6, 2024 - 12:16

Roger Kamba, Minister of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare, announced at a press conference held Thursday, December 5 in Kinshasa, a stabilization of monkeypox cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to data from the ministry, a significant decrease in cases has been observed since week 39, with a reduction from 849 to 430 reported cases.

"For the last two weeks, we were at 849 cases in week 47 and around 430 cases in week 48. Currently, we are no longer in the explosion that we might have feared. Since weeks 39 or 40 until today, we have observed a downward stability. The suspected cases of Mpox reported to us are slightly decreasing. Even the national and international experts present here confirm this trend," said Minister Roger Kamba.

Vaccination underway and new vaccines expected

Regarding vaccination, the Director General of the National Institute of Public Health (INSP), Dieudonné Mwamba Kazadi, indicated that the vaccination campaign is progressing. The first dose has been administered in the six most affected provinces, and the second phase will begin next week.

“We have completed the first phase of vaccination, because it must be remembered that the vaccine is administered in two doses. Regarding Japanese vaccines, discussions are very advanced with the Japanese government, and we are at the stage of signing agreements to also vaccinate children. We are also receiving new doses of MVA vaccines for the second phase in the affected provinces,” said Dieudonné Mwamba Kazadi.

Since the start of the Mpox outbreak in the DRC, the country has recorded 49,056 cases, including 10,846 confirmed cases and 1,193 deaths. The provinces currently most affected by the outbreak include Equateur, South Kivu, Tshopo, Sankuru and Bas-Uélé.

Grace Guka

https://actualite.cd/2024/12/06/mpo...rassure-sur-la-stabilisation-des-cas-suspects

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Mpox in Tshopo: Increase in Mpox cases with more than 2,000 cases and 104 deaths recorded

Saturday, December 7, 2024 - 06:17

The number of Mpox cases continues to grow in Tshopo province. According to the provincial health division, more than 2,115 cases have been recorded, accompanied by 104 deaths since the beginning of the epidemic, according to the week 47 report.

During an awareness session organized by the communication unit of the provincial health division, community leaders were informed about the risks associated with Mpox and the importance of their involvement in the response. This meeting also provided an opportunity to share information on the epidemiological situation, modes of transmission and preventive measures.

According to John Mundele, in charge of the communication unit, "more than 2,115 cases have been recorded, with 104 deaths. However, several patients suffering from Mpox do not consult medical facilities for treatment. Some turn to traditional treatments," he confirmed.

The Tshopo provincial health division recently received significant support in the area of ​​communication to strengthen awareness. "This support comes from the national level. It is essential to transmit the right information to beneficiaries, so that they can relay it in their communities," explained Dr. Emmanuel, who came from Kinshasa.

More than 80 participants took part in the session, including religious leaders, police and military personnel, government officials, as well as representatives of women's organizations and civil society. Women traders and students were also invited to contribute to the activity.

From Kisangani, Gabriel Makabu

https://actualite.cd/index.php/2024...s-de-mpox-avec-plus-de-2-000-cas-et-104-deces

 

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Ministère de la Santé RDC
@MinSanteDRC

Translated from French by Google

Mpox Status Update

During the week 604 suspected cases of which 8 cases were confirmed

The case fatality rate increased from 0.41% (Week 48) to 0% (Week 49). Since the beginning of the epidemic (Week 1 to Week 49), 53,860 suspected cases have been reported, of which 11,984 cases have been confirmed and 1,225 deaths have been recorded.

Highlights
No deaths among confirmed cases
(Video)

9:39 AM · Dec 12, 2024​
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Screenshots from the video:

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Mpox in the DRC: in the displaced persons camps in Goma, containing the epidemic [3/3]

Published on:20/12/2024 - 00:04

In the displaced persons camps outside the capital of North Kivu province, Goma, hundreds of thousands of people have been crammed together since 2021 and the clashes between the M23 men, supported by the Rwandan army, and pro-government troops. The living conditions and promiscuity between the displaced are two conditions favorable to the development of the mpox virus. However, the epidemic has not exploded there, but many questions remain unanswered.

At the health center of the Rusayo 1 displaced persons camp, at the entrance to the new building, hand washing stations have been installed everywhere. Only a few health workers are authorized to follow up on confirmed and suspected cases of MPOX. " Here, we have many suspected cases, but given the conditions in which the [displaced persons] live, there could be more," says Dr. Marius Sanani, an epidemiologist. Because the MPOX epidemic has not exploded in the displaced persons camps, contrary to the fears of the authorities and humanitarians at the beginning of the epidemic.

" We are in a camp for displaced people, but we do not even reach more than three cases per day. What exactly is happening despite the contacts, the promiscuity?, asks the epidemiologist. The cases are not exploding."

While it is rather a good thing that cases of mpox are not exploding despite the promiscuity in the camps, Doctor Marius Sanani explains that we need to understand the reasons. Several avenues have been put forward. " We will continue to think about it. Is it our action that is effective? Is it a natural immunity that has been developed secondarily, given that we have more cases in children? We are asking ourselves questions with our colleagues," explains the doctor.

Patients without symptoms who can transmit the disease

The only two patients who died from the MPOX disease in Goma were in fact newborns, who died from a possible congenital infection, explains Dr. Abdoul Karim Sangaré, the medical coordinator of the NGO Alima. " Newborns are born with the disease of the mothers, who were positive [for MPOX]. It happened that we did not even have any signs, any trace of MPOX in the mother. But the child was born with it, which was confirmed, testifies the doctor. So this shows that in the community, there are still people who harbor the virus, who do not have the disease, but who will continue to transmit it."

A few serious cases continue to emerge. They are then referred to the approved center supported by the NGO Alima, at the general hospital in Goma.

https://www.rfi.fr/fr/podcasts/repo...ps-de-déplacés-à-goma-contenir-l-épidémie-3-3
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