Death Toll from Mpox in DRC Surpasses 570

On Monday (August 19), Roger Gamaba, the Minister of Health for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), announced that the current Mpox (formerly monkeypox) outbreak has been declared a "continent-wide emergency."

Gamaba reported that since the beginning of this year, the DRC has recorded 16,700 confirmed or suspected cases of Mpox, including more than 570 deaths. This figure represents an increase from the 15,664 suspected cases and 548 deaths reported the previous week.

The DRC declared a nationwide Mpox outbreak in December 2022, which led to the establishment of a situation management system starting in February 2023 due to the rising number of reported cases.

Mpox has affected 17 African countries, as well as some countries outside the continent, with a significant impact on younger populations, particularly children under 15 years old. This is considered a "new issue" in the context of this outbreak.

Gamaba stated that while vaccines are a part of the response, the primary defense is adherence to preventive measures. He also mentioned that the DRC will receive a batch of Mpox vaccines next week, and the government's intervention has helped prevent a widespread outbreak within the country.

On August 14, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Mpox a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), signaling a risk of international spread. This followed an initial declaration on July 23, 2022.

The latest announcement by the WHO came after the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention assessed the Mpox outbreak as a continent-wide public health emergency.

Reports indicate that the number of new Mpox cases in 2024 has increased by 160% compared to the same period in 2023. The WHO noted that the outbreak in the DRC is becoming more severe due to a new viral strain, Clade 1b, which has a mortality rate of approximately 3.6%, significantly higher than previous strains.

source for the information is Xinhuathai.