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DRC - Mpox (monkeypox) outbreak 2024

Translation Google

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/...son-de-vaccins-attendue-jeudi-en-rdc-20240904
 
Translation Google​

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/
------------------------
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
---------------------------------------------

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...-inquietante-de-nombre-des-cas-au-nord-ubangi
​
 
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

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8:01 AM · Sep 5, 2024​​​
 
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-...e-first-case-in-kinshasa-the-capital-city/978
 
Translation Google​

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/mpo...qui-pourquoi-et-quand-entretien-exclusif-avec
 
WHO delivers 14 tons of emergency supplies for mpox response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

07 September 2024

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Nairobi/Kinshasa ‒ World Health Organization (WHO) today delivered 14 metric tons of medical supplies and equipment to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to support infection prevention and control and case management for the ongoing response to halt the mpox outbreak.

The supplies consist of personal protective equipment, tents, treatments and other medical supplies, sufficient to support clinical care for 16 800 people for three months. The consignment was shipped from WHO Emergency Preparedness Hub in Nairobi, Kenya. This is the first of several deliveries to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the coming weeks, the total value of which amounts to US$ 1 million.

“These supplies will ensure health facilities have the critical items needed to provide safe and optimal care to patients, contributing to the ongoing emergency response by the health authorities, with support from WHO and other partners,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the most affected country in the region, WHO is intensifying support to the national authorities. The Organization has deployed experts and leveraging existing national capacity by repurposing more than 400 field staff to support frontline operations mainly related to surveillance, case investigation, contact tracing and community engagement.

A team of vaccine experts is also being deployed to the country to support the planning and rollout of vaccines. Thanks to donation by European Commission's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has received 99 000 mpox vaccine doses, with an additional 101 000 expected to be delivered.

Across the region, WHO has provided 2500 starter laboratory kits for 13 countries and pre-positioned 4000 test kits at each emergency hub in Nairobi and Dakar.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is seeing multiple outbreaks of mpox driven by different strains of the virus. The current outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is driven by a new variant of clade I, called clade Ib which is spreading between people, including through sexual transmission. This strain has now been detected in other countries in East and Central Africa: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. It has also been detected among travellers in countries outside Africa.
​
https://www.afro.who.int/countries/...plies-mpox-response-democratic-republic-congo
 
Translation Google​

Mpox: Tshopo with its worrying figures in Isangi

Monday, September 9, 2024 - 08:35

1,090 cases of monkeypox were recorded in Tshopo province in northeastern DRC between January and August 2024, according to the provincial health division. The Yakusu health zone in Isangi territory alone recorded 178 cases.

According to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which is supporting the Ministry of Health, "overall, in the Tshopo province, monkeypox is becoming a worrying situation." Boubacar Mbalo, MSF emergency project coordinator, said during a press conference on Thursday, September 5, that the Yakusu health zone is a priority for treating monkeypox.

In the provincial division of Tshopo, the head of the epidemiological surveillance service reports a lethality rate of 3.9% while the national average is 2.9%. Mbalo of MSF is not surprised by this rate because "the epidemic has been in the province for a year". These statistics place Tshopo in the top 5 provinces most affected by this zoonosis.

In total, the 23 health zones of Tshopo have reported 42 deaths, reports the provincial division of Tshopo at the 35th epidemiological week. The central prison of Kisangani has not recorded any cases of death but several positive cases are listed.

Gaston MUKENDI, in Kisangani

https://actualite.cd/2024/09/09/mpox-la-tshopo-avec-ses-chiffres-inquietants-isangi

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North Kivu: the first confirmed case of Mpox reported in Kyavinyonge

September 9, 2024

Beni/Kyondo, September 9, 2024 (ACP).- A first case of monkeypox (Mpox) confirmed in the laboratory was reported on Sunday in Kyavinyonge, a town on the shores of Lake Albert, border with Uganda, Kyondo health zone, Beni territory in North Kivu (East of the Democratic Republic of Congo).

" The first confirmed case of Mpox has just been recorded in Kyavinyonge. The lakeside population of Kyavinyonge, which is very crowded, constitutes a fertile ground that risks facilitating the rapid spread of Mpox if the inhabitants do not respect the barrier measures and the instructions of the health agents, given that this entity is the subject of several cross-border movements ," declared Dr. Samuel Kabongo Kapita, chief medical officer of the Kyondo health zone.

" We are at a time when vigilance must be at its peak. Health workers must develop awareness sessions to limit the transmission of the disease that is already there. There is yet another case from Kasindi who had the same symptoms as the first case and who was hospitalized in Kyavinyonge. We have already taken and sent the sample to the INRB laboratory ," said Dr. Kabongo, who called on neighboring health zones to increase barrier measures.

According to this doctor, the border town of Kasindi, in the Mutwanga health zone, is the epicentre of the epidemic in the region.

He called on the entire population to mobilize to stop the transmission of the disease in the Grand Nord region of North Kivu. ACP/ODM

https://acp.cd/sante/nord-kivu-le-premier-cas-confirme-de-mpox-notifie-a-kyavinyonge/

---------------------------------------------

Tanganyika: two suspected cases of Mpox recorded in the territory of Kabalo

Published on Mon, 09/09/2024 - 16:01 | Modified on Mon, 09/09/2024 - 16:05

Two suspected cases of Mpox or monkey pox have been recorded in Kabalo territory in Tanganyika province. The announcement of these first cases in Kabalo was made on Saturday, September 7 by the administrator of this territory, Prince Sengo.

" At our level we do not have the latitude to confirm but all the possible signs that we have observed are which testify in black and white that there is already this case of disease ," he declared to Radio Okapi.

While waiting for the results of the analyses of the samples sent to Kinshasa, the two suspected cases are isolated at the Kabalo general reference hospital, reassures Prince Sengo.

The administrator of the Kabalo territory raises awareness among the population about respecting hygiene rules.

The province of Tanganyika thus records its third suspected case of Mpox after that notified in the territory of Moba a few weeks ago.

...
https://www.radiookapi.net/2024/09/...cts-de-mpox-enregistres-dans-le-territoire-de
 
Translation Google​

Lomami: a first case of Mpox tested positive in Kampoto II

Published on Fri, 09/13/2024 - 2:56 PM | Modified on Fri, 09/13/2024 - 2:58 PM

Lomami province has just recorded its first case of Mpox disease (Editor's note: monkeypox).

The vice-governor and interim governor of Lomami, Célestin Kayembe confirmed this information through a statement made to the press on Thursday, September 12 in Kabinda.

He indicated that this first case was detected in the Kabinda health zone, more precisely in the Nkumba health area, in the Kampoto II village.

In addition to this confirmed case, the provincial authority revealed that 24 other cases are declared suspected in this part of the country.

The samples have already been sent to the National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB) in Kinshasa and the results are still awaited.

Among these cases, 8 were identified in the Kabinda health zone, 6 in the Kamana health zone, 5 others in that of Mwene-Ditu.

The health zones of Kalambayi, Kalonda Est Makota, Ludimbi Lukula and Mulumba each recorded one suspected case.

Faced with this situation, the interim governor calls on the population to rigorously observe hygiene measures to limit the spread of this epidemic.

He also invited his constituents to go to the nearest health center for treatment in case of fever, headaches, muscle pain and the appearance of spots all over the body.

https://www.radiookapi.net/2024/09/...-premier-cas-de-mpox-teste-positif-kampoto-ii
 
Translation Google

Monkeypox in the DRC: vaccination campaign begins on October 2

Saturday, September 14, 2024 - 08:09

The Democratic Republic of Congo will launch its vaccination campaign against monkeypox (Mpox) from October 2, 2024. According to the Minister of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare Roger Kamba who announced it during the thirteenth meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Friday, September 13, 2024, this campaign will end until October 11 of the current year.

"On Mpox, he mentioned that active case finding is being intensified as well as contact tracing, surveillance at the point of entry, at the checkpoint as well as community awareness. To date, our country has received more than 265,000 doses of vaccines, the process of acquiring 3,000 doses of vaccines for children is sufficiently advanced from the Japanese government, another 100,000 doses of vaccines are expected from France. Thus, the Mpox vaccination campaign will be launched from October 2 to 11, 2024 for the first round," reports the minutes of the meeting.

In the meantime, the source said, 10 tons of medical supplies have also been received by the World Health Organization (WHO) to ensure adequate and effective medical care for all patients. "The care is free," he said. Regarding cholera, the Minister of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare reported that the cumulative number of cases has increased from 314 to 380 cases, bringing the fatality rate to 0.5%, unlike last week which was 0.02%. The actions carried out and planned as part of the response plan were brought to the attention of the council and the latter took note of this information note.

The Democratic Republic of Congo continues to record new cases of Mpox. According to the Minister of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare Roger Kamba, the Democratic Republic of Congo needs nearly 3 million doses of vaccine for 2.5 million people while emphasizing the importance of prevention.

In its response strategy, the government of the Republic, through the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Security, wants to rely on raising awareness among the population, prevention and treatment, to defeat the Monkeypox (Mpox) epidemic.

Clement MUAMBA

https://actualite.cd/2024/09/14/monkeypox-en-rdc-la-campagne-de-vaccination-debute-le-2-octobre
 
Translation Google​

Mpox in Sankuru: Rapid rise in confirmed cases and deaths

By Editor
Published 8 hours ago
Flipboard

"The epidemiological situation of Mpox in the province of Sankuru is particularly worrying."

This statement comes from the provincial Minister of Health, Doctor Tony Elonge during an interview granted to RTNC. CD this Sunday, September 15, 2024.

"Sankuru has become a major focus of this epidemic with 2,752 cases recorded including 157 deaths, which represents a fatality rate of 6%. All 16 health zones in the province are affected by the epidemic, which underlines the seriousness of the situation," he confirmed.

According to him, the provincial government, in collaboration with the Sankuru Provincial Health Division, has intensified its efforts to sensitize the population through communication campaigns focused on compliance with hygiene rules and the isolation of suspected cases.

"Several challenges remain in the management of the crisis, particularly with regard to the management of suspected cases, epidemiological surveillance, contact tracing and case confirmation," he added.

And to continue:

"These efforts are hampered by a lack of resources, including the absence of laboratories capable of confirming suspected cases."

Minister Tony Elonge finally presented the difficulties facing the province.

"Although the province benefits from UNICEF support through (MDA), the response remains limited to only 6 of the 16 health zones. Moreover, even in these zones, certain critical dimensions, such as the psychological and nutritional care of patients, are neglected. The lack of logistical means also complicates epidemiological surveillance, and several health zones as well as community relays are poorly equipped to effectively monitor the epidemic," he concluded.

It should be noted that, despite local efforts and partial international assistance, the management of the Mpox epidemic in Sankuru faces many obstacles, making it difficult to effectively control the spread of the virus throughout the province.

Jean-Claude Kopami Shongo from Sankuru.

https://rtnc.cd/mpox-au-sankuru-ascension-fulgurante-des-cas-confirmes-et-des-deces/
 
Translation Google​

Mpox in Maï-Ndombe: more than 30 deaths out of nearly 500 cases, proximity to the equatorial forest, one of the factors of propagation

Tuesday, September 17, 2024 - 11:03

At least 496 cases of Mpox have been recorded in the province of Maï-Ndombe this year against 33 deaths, representing a fatality rate of 6.7%, indicates the interim head of the provincial health division.

All 14 health zones are affected by the epidemic. Mpox is not a new disease in this province located in the West of the DRC. Mai-Ndombe has been affected by it since the 1970s.

The proximity to the equatorial forest is an important factor in the spread of the disease in this province, with hunting as the main activity, underlines the interim head of the provincial health division.

"We are among the five provinces that supply cases. First, it is our ecosystem, we live in the forest. The community's activities are hunting and livestock farming. As you know, when a hunter picks up a dead animal, he does not inform the population. First, it is his family who takes the animal himself and he goes to sell it. This is what causes the epidemic to break out every year because we are in the middle of the equatorial forest," said Dr. Manassé Iyemenzayi, interim provincial health division head of Maï ndombe.

Among the measures taken, there are in particular the regular holding of meetings of the provincial health emergency management committee and the awareness raising of the population through local media.

Jonathan Mesa, in Bandundu

https://actualite.cd/2024/09/17/mpo...ur-pres-de-500-cas-la-proximite-avec-la-foret
 
Translation Google​

Mpox: two deaths recorded by the coordination of the response in North Kivu

September 18, 2024

Goma, September 19, 2024 (ACP).- The province of North Kivu, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has recorded two deaths due to Mpox (monkeypox) since the start of the epidemic in this province in June 2024, ACP learned on Wednesday from a health source.

"We deplore the progression of this disease, since the notification, at the beginning of June 2024, of the first case until the date of September 16. North Kivu has already recorded 225 confirmed cases of Mpox including two deaths as well as 190 patients treated and cured", declared Dr. Gaston Lubambo, head of the provincial health division in North Kivu, following a meeting to evaluate the provincial coordination of the response to this epidemic.

"We ask the population not to panic, but rather encourage them to seek treatment on time and avoid self-medication which delays the effective management of this disease at the risk of seeing the patient present quite severe forms which can complicate their health condition," he said. He asked the population to take ownership of the response by observing hygiene measures and adopting responsible behavior, because Mpox is also sexually transmitted.

Dr. Lubambo said that some structures have already been identified for the management of monkeypox. These are mainly the North Kivu Provincial General Hospital, the Kyeshero General Reference Hospital and the Virunga General Reference Hospital, before adding that other structures are in the evaluation phase. ACP/

https://acp.cd/sante/mpox-deux-deces-enregistres-par-la-coordination-de-la-riposte-au-nord-kivu/

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Mpox in Equateur: Government partners commit to boosting the response to the epidemic

Published on Thu, 09/19/2024 - 11:58 | Modified on Thu, 09/19/2024 - 14:01

The technical and financial partners of the Government of the DRC consider it necessary to boost response activities against the Mpox epidemic in Equateur. This province currently has 6,422 cases, including 344 deaths.

The partners took stock of the situation on Wednesday, September 18 in Mbandaka, the capital of Equateur.

Given the number of cases recorded, Equateur must address several challenges, both at the Mpox treatment center (CTM) and within the community, they noted.

Among these challenges, there is the insufficiency of medicines, the lack of drinking water, the lack of food support for patients admitted to the CTM and the lack of means of raising awareness among the population and the absence of bonuses to be paid to the response teams.

“There are also logistical challenges. But we have also brought medicines and products that can help the sick. Among these, there are vaccines that are being delivered. But there is inaccessibility in some places, that is another challenge, to bring these medicines,” said Dr. Douglas Noble, associate director of health emergency preparedness and response at UNICEF/New York. He reassured that partners will soon provide more support to boost the response.

Dr Douglas Noble also appreciated the work already done by the response teams:

“We are here with the WHO team, as well as the Africa CDC, because here there are more cases of Mpox. We are here to assess the situation in the province. I am really impressed to see all the work done here, the community engagement. I met young people who work in the community, they really do an incredible job.”

https://www.radiookapi.net/2024/09/...tenaires-du-gouvernement-sengagent-booster-la
 
Translation Google​

DRC: Kamituga, epicenter of the Mpox epidemic


By Laetitia Lago Dregnounou and AP
Last update: 8 hours ago

Detected in September 2023, the new variant of Mpox, called clade 1B, continues to rage in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Kamituga, in South Kivu, is the epicenter of the disease, affecting adults, adolescents and children alike. According to the World Health Organization, this strain is potentially more transmissible and dangerous. An average of five new cases per day are recorded and the city's hospital is often close to saturation. Health authorities attribute this underestimation to the lack of access to rural areas and the inability of many people to receive adequate medical care. Since the beginning of the epidemic, nearly 1,000 people have been infected in Kamituga, and at least eight of them have died, including four children.

Considered the commercial center of South Kivu province, this mining town, which has a population of about 300,000, is a constant draw for miners, sex workers and street traders. Experts say cases identified in other parts of eastern DRC may have originated from this town. In South Kivu province, nearly 6,000 cases have been recorded since early 2024.

The DRC has already received more than 265,000 doses of MPOX vaccines. Vaccination campaigns are expected to begin as early as October but may not reach remote areas. Authorities estimate that about 3 million doses are needed to end the outbreak in the country. In addition to the DRC, Burundi is also affected by the virus. The country has reported 564 cases of monkeypox.

https://fr.africanews.com/2024/09/19/rdc-kamituga-epicentre-de-lepidemie-de-mpox/
 
WHO delivers 33.5 metric tonnes of medical supplies to the Democratic Republic of the Congo

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20 September 2024

Kinshasa – In its largest air cargo shipment to the African region this year, World Health Organization (WHO) today delivered 33.5 metric tonnes of emergency medical supplies and equipment to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to reinforce mpox outbreak response.

Today’s delivery follows an initial shipment of more than 14 metric tonnes of emergency supplies to the country two weeks ago to support infection prevention and control, and clinical care measures in the ongoing outbreak. The two shipments will contribute significantly to infection prevention and treatment services in the country for the next three months.

In addition to reinforcing the mpox outbreak response, the medical equipment and supplies will also be delivered to laboratories as well as district and referral health facilities to provide care for other medical conditions.

“We’re intensifying our support to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in all critical areas of the mpox outbreak response, ensuring adequate testing, prevention and effective clinical care to stop the spread of this virus,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “We’re grateful to our partners for the important collaboration in strengthening the ongoing national efforts to bring this outbreak to an end.”

The Democratic Republic of the Congo accounts for about 90% of the more than 31 000 suspected mpox cases reported so far this year from 14 countries in the African region. WHO is working closely with partners and the government to enhance capacity, expertise and outbreak response measures.

The spread of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is attributed to two distinct main outbreaks: the spread of mpox clade Ia in the western Equateur and other provinces of the country where the disease is endemic, including spread to and outbreaks in the capital Kinshasa; and the spread of clade Ib in North and South Kivu provinces in the east, with a few cases in Kinshasa.

As part of increased support to the mpox outbreak response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, WHO is expanding its operational capacity in the field, with more than 300 disease surveillance and outbreak response experts from WHO’s polio response programme recently integrated into mpox outbreak control efforts.

In collaboration with national health authorities and partners, WHO experts are also working closely with communities to raise awareness about mpox, promote preventive measures and encourage reporting of cases.

Efforts are also being ramped up to strengthen national diagnostic capacities by providing testing kits, reagents and machines to decentralize testing in eight laboratories. On 19 September 2024, WHO dispatched 3500 GeneXpert cartridges to provincial laboratories to ensure adequate testing for effective clinical care, thanks to support from the United States Agency for International Development.

In readiness for mpox vaccine rollout, WHO is working with countries to ramp up measures to ensure effective introduction of the vaccines. WHO has developed an mpox vaccine roadmap and readiness tool and is supporting countries to develop national vaccine deployment plans that target those populations at highest risk.
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https://www.afro.who.int/countries/...es-medical-supplies-democratic-republic-congo
 
Translation Google​
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Maniema: a suspected case of Mpox detected at the central prison of Kindu​

A suspected case of monkey pox has been detected since Friday, September 20, 2024 at the central prison of Kindu, in the province of Maniema.

Even though the director of this prison contacted has not yet confirmed the news, but the spokesperson of the provincial government, Ali Kyamasa who rather acknowledged it to the press, indicates that the person presumed to be suffering from this disease is already quarantined.

Built in 1938 with a capacity of 2,500 prisoners, the central prison of Kindu is currently occupied, according to concordant sources, by approximately 5,000 prisoners who live there in very difficult conditions, according to several reports from civil society and human rights structures.

Adjany Bingila

https://www.congo-press.com/sante/m...e-mpox-detecte-a-la-prison-centrale-de-kindu/

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Haut-Uele: 66 cases of Mpox and 3 deaths in 12 health zones

Posted on Sep. 21, 2024 at 10:53 pm

At least 66 cases of Monkey Pox disease or monkey pox have been reported up to September 19, including three deaths, in 12 out of 13 health zones in the Haut-Uele province.

This clarification was given on Friday, September 20, 2024 by the interim head of the Provincial Health Division, Dr. José Lolekoleko, during an interview with the local press.

According to him, 23 active cases are under treatment and 39 have already recovered. He specifies that only the health zone of Dungu has not yet recorded a suspected or positive case since the official declaration of the disease, almost a month ago.

The health zones most affected by the epidemic are notably Niangara (23 cases), Isiro (16) and Pawa (2), with one death each, he said.

Joshua Nsalanga

https://www.congo-press.com/sante/haut-uele-66-cas-de-la-mpox-et-3-deces-dans-12-zones-de-sante/

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Mpox: a control device installed at N'djili international airport in Kinshasa

September 21, 2024

Kinshasa, September 21, 2024 (ACP).- A health control device has been installed at N'djili international airport in Kinshasa to monitor the Mpox epidemic or monkeypox which is raging in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the ACP noted on Saturday.

" On the instructions of our hierarchy, we were asked to strengthen health control here at the N'djili international airport. We have installed a health control system there for international and domestic flights. This Mpox system has been in effect at the N'djili international airport since the declaration of this epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo ," said Dr. Claude Taty, head of the National Border Hygiene Program (PNHF).

For him, the PNHF, which is a public service responsible for monitoring epidemics at the country's borders, organizes three packages of activities for this purpose, namely epidemiological surveillance, risk communication and prevention and control of infection.

Epidemiological surveillance, he explained, is carried out by assessing passengers through visual observation based on signs suggestive of Mpox, including skin rashes and other signs and taking temperature using thermographic cameras installed at departures and arrivals of international and domestic flights.

He also insisted on the 2nd package of activities which involves risk communication, with posters and an audio message frequently broadcast on the internal radio of the Régie des voies aérienne (RVA), the public operator managing the airports of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

" Here, we are disinfecting hands and we advise passengers and platform users to wear masks and observe physical distancing ," said the head doctor.

Dr. Taty said that so far, his department has had to report two alerts regarding international flights, for which the results were negative.

According to data from the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) through its Public Health Emergency Operations Center (COUSP-DRC), consulted by the ACP, the DRC has recorded 26,791 suspected cases, 5,613 confirmed cases and 837 deaths due to Mpox since the beginning of the year. ACP/JF

https://acp.cd/sante/mpox-un-dispos...laeroport-international-de-ndjili-a-kinshasa/

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South Kivu: Death of a nurse following Mpox at Uvira hospital

By Editor
Published 6 hours ago

A nurse from the Uvira General Reference Hospital died on Friday, September 20, 2024 after being affected by the Mpox epidemic.

"The nurse was infected with this disease during contact with the sick," an epidemiologist told RTNC.CD on Sunday, September 22.

Uvira hospital has already taken steps to ensure that other healthcare workers are not contaminated by this disease.

Pascal Mwinyi Masimango

https://rtnc.cd/sud-kivu-deces-dun-infirmier-de-suite-de-mpox-a-lhopital-duvira/
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Hat tip to Tetano

Related to:​
Eurosurv. Co-circulation of monkeypox virus subclades Ia and Ib in Kinshasa Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, July to August 2024
https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/welcome-to-the-scientific-library/poxviridae-including-monkeypox/997178-eurosurv-co-circulation-of-monkeypox-virus-subclades-ia-and-ib-in-kinshasa-province-democratic-republic-of-the-congo-july-to-august-2024

Mpox may trigger large outbreak in one of Africa’s biggest cities

New study finds two variants of virus have a foothold in DRC capital of Kinshasa
Mpox for the first time appears to be making serious inroads in Kinshasa, the capital city of 17 million people in the country hardest hit by the disease, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Long confined to remote, rural villages in the DRC, the virus responsible for the painful and sometimes lethal disease only surfaced in the country’s cities over the past year. A recent sharp uptick in suspected mpox cases in the capital—including some from a viral strain that has spread widely through sexual contact elsewhere—could portend a larger outbreak.
...
Although many mpox cases in Africa go unreported, Kinshasa had largely been spared until now, according to the DRC Ministry of Health. The city only had 525 suspected cases this year as of 15 September. But more than 10% of those occurred in the final week of that period.
...
Kinshasa has now been hit by clade Ib as well, according to a study published in Eurosurveillance on 19 September. Researchers confirmed the mpox virus in 11 suspected cases, seven who had clade 1a and the rest Ib. “I am afraid that there is a silent clade Ib transmission through sexual contact,” says epidemiologist Placide Mbala, a co-author of the study who works at the National Institute of Biomedical Research.​
...
​There’s also concern that if the virus spreads widely in Kinshasa, it could “spill back” into rodents there and establish itself in that population, which could make it more difficult to contain this outbreak and future spread, says co-author Jason Kindrachuk, a biochemist at the University of Manitoba. (Both Mbala and Kindrachuk were co-authors of the earlier report about the Kamituga outbreak, which Nature published in June.)​
...

https://www.science.org/content/article/mpox-may-trigger-large-outbreak-one-africa-s-largest-cities
 
Multi-country external situation report no. 38, published 28 September 2024
...
Highlights

A total of 6603 confirmed mpox cases, including 32 deaths have been reported across 15 African
countries in 2024, with 402 confirmed cases and no deaths reported in the last week. The Democratic
Republic of the Congo accounts for most cases (5621 cases, 25 deaths), followed by Burundi (696
cases, no deaths) and Nigeria (78 cases, no deaths).
• All currently affected countries on the continent have reported new cases in the last six weeks, with
Guinea reporting its first mpox case in the past month.
• Testing challenges and delays in case confirmation persist in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
persist, with 37% of suspected cases tested in 2024. Positivity among tested cases is around 55%.
• In 2024, as of 22 September, 31 427 suspected cases, including 844 deaths (CFR 2.7%) have been
reported in Africa, with 2085 new cases and 32 deaths in the last week. The Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Burundi, and Nigeria are reporting the most suspected cases.
• In this report, the latest data received enabled a more detailed analysis of the national and subnational
epidemiological situation for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and for Burundi.
o In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, cases linked to clade Ib MPXV are driving outbreaks
particularly in South Kivu province.
​...​
Focus on the Democratic Republic of the Congo

In 2024, all provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have reported suspected mpox cases.
Available sequencing data has identified clade Ib MPXV in three provinces, South Kivu, North Kivu and
Kinshasa. Clade Ib MPXV was first identified in January 2024 in South Kivu, a province unaffected by
mpox prior to September 2024; clade Ib MPXV is associated with a rapid rise in case reports in the
province. MPXV clade Ib and clade Ia were found to be cocirculating in Kinshasa in July-August 2024.5
In 2024, the provinces reporting the highest number of suspected mpox cases are Equateur and South
Kivu, followed by Sankuru, Sud Ubangi, Tshopo, Tshuapa and Mongala (Figure 4, left). The same
provinces have also reported the highest number of confirmed mpox cases in 2024 (Figure 4, right).
Trends in suspected cases reveal important differences between provinces6 – the number of weekly
reported cases in Equateur is stable, with approximately 100 - 200 suspected cases reported per week,
while the trend in South Kivu continues to rise with around 500 - 600 cases reported per week. Weekly
reported cases are also increasing in Sankuru, Sud Ubangi, Tshopo, Tshuapa and Mongala.
While the higher number of reported mpox cases may in part be attributable to strengthened surveillance,
there is also evidence to support rising mpox transmission in the country in recent years.7
...
Most mpox deaths among suspected cases in the country are reported in the provinces of Equateur,
Sankuru, Tshuapa and Tshopo (Figure 5). The case fatality ratio (CFR) differs between provinces, with
the highest recorded in Maindombe (6.7%) and Equateur (5.3%), while some provinces with low number
of mpox cases have not reported any death in 2024 so far (Figure 5). In South Kivu, which is believed to
be affected only by clade Ib MPXV, and to date primarily among adults, the CFR is 0.5%.
...​

https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum...xternal-situation-report-38-28-september-2024
 
Translation Google​

Mpox in Kinshasa: 90 suspected cases recorded, including around forty hospitalized (Ministry of Health)

Wednesday, October 2, 2024 - 10:00

The Minister of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare carried out an inspection visit on Monday, September 30, to the Vijana reference hospital, one of the establishments that accommodate patients with Mpox. The objective was to inquire about the conditions of care for these patients but also the working conditions of the hospital staff.

During this visit, the Minister of Health expressed his satisfaction with the effectiveness of the care provided in this centre and insisted that there are no fees to pay to the fund for the care of patients.

"The quality of care is satisfactory, and the commitment of the medical teams is remarkable," declared Roger Kamba, Minister of Public Health and Social Security.

On site, the Minister of Health maintained that the city of Kinshasa currently has 90 suspected cases, of which around forty are already hospitalized.

This visit comes a week before the start of the Mpox vaccination campaign, which is scheduled for October 5, 2024 throughout the national territory, with the exception of the province of South Kivu where the campaign is postponed to October 7. Théophile Wakulika, the provincial Minister of Health who announced it, explains that this postponement will allow the vaccines that arrived Monday in Bukavu to be transported to the health zones most affected by monkeypox in South Kivu, including Nyangezi, Kamituga and Miti-Murhesa. He also specified that this campaign will initially concern healthcare workers, sex workers, eco-guards and other people living around the Kahuzi-Biega National Park, as well as children under 5 years old.

Grâce GUKA

https://actualite.cd/2024/10/02/mpo...nregistres-dont-environ-quarante-hospitalises
 
Translation Google

Maï-Ndombe: 131 Mpox samples confirmed positive by the INRB in Kinshasa

October 3, 2024

Inongo, October 3, 2024 (ACP).- 131 Mpox samples out of the 183 sent to the National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB) in Kinshasa by the Provincial Health Division (DPS) of Mai-Ndombe, in the South-West of the Democratic Republic of Congo, were confirmed positive, the ACP learned Thursday from a health source.

"We have a small problem here regarding the sending of samples to Kinshasa for analysis at the INRB. To date, the province has sent 183 samples and 131 have come back positive, a positivity rate of 71.6%. The samples are still hanging around here and still hanging around in the health zones (ZS), due to lack of means of transport and evacuation to the INRB where they must be analyzed," said Dr. Manassé Iyemanzay, head doctor of the technical support office at the DPS in Maï-Ndombe in an interview with the ACP.

Dr. Manassé Iyemanzay also made known the difficulties encountered in the deployment of medicines from the central office of each ZS to the health areas (AS) and other problems.

" There is still a problem with the deployment of medicines. The medicines have arrived in seven health zones (ZS), at the capital of the ZS, but the arrival of these medicines at the last kilometer still requires funding since the ZS management teams do not have the means to deploy these medicines from the central office to the health areas (AS) where the patients are treated ," Dr. Iyemanzay added. ACP/JF

https://acp.cd/sante/mai-ndombe-131-echantillons-de-mpox-confirmes-positifs-par-linrb-a-kinshasa/
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Mpox in South Kivu: lack of ambulances increases the spread in Mwenga (head doctor of the area)

October 3, 2024

Bukavu, Oct. 3, 2024 (ACP). – The lack of ambulances to transport Mpox patients to treatment centers increases the spread in the Kitutu health zone, in Mwenga, 235 kilometers from Bukavu in South Kivu, (East of the Democratic Republic of Congo), ACP learned from an interview on Thursday.

" We don't have an ambulance, it's always motorcycles that are used to transport patients, suspected cases of Mpox, to the treatment center. They have a hard time getting by on motorcycles and in our region, motorcyclists can easily transport three to four people on the same motorcycle, which doesn't make our task any easier ," said Dr. David Kisoka, chief medical officer of the Kitutu health zone.

" Since the beginning of the year, we have reported 112 cases of Mpox, including two deaths. These cases mainly come from the two health areas, namely Mapale and Makalanga. The distance between these entities and the Kitutu general referral hospital is long, more or less 70 kilometers ," he said.

He also took the opportunity to welcome the support of the provincial health division (DPS) and its partners such as UNICEF, which supports the health zone in carrying out certain awareness-raising activities, in providing free care to patients and in erecting a tent for the treatment of Mpox at the Kitutu general referral hospital. ACP/JF

https://acp.cd/sante/mpox-au-sud-ki...la-propagation-a-mwenga-medecin-chef-de-zone/

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