In recent news from the Democratic Republic of Congo, a major health challenge is looming with the alarming spread of monkeypox. This viral disease, which has already caused more than 1,000 deaths among the 38,185 suspected cases recorded, poses a serious threat to the Congolese population. The Minister of Public Health, Samuel-Roger Kamba, revealed these worrying figures during a meeting on the epidemiological situation of this scourge called “Mpox”.
During this meeting, the Minister stressed the crucial importance of respecting preventive measures to stem the spread of the epidemic. He alerted citizens to the need to protect themselves against this dangerous virus and stressed the effectiveness of vaccination, which has already affected 47,547 people and reached 103% of the target. However, this vaccination campaign only took place in three of the six provinces targeted by the epidemic.
Despite these overwhelming figures, a glimmer of hope can be seen in the words of Minister Kamba, who mentioned a significant decrease in the fatality rate of the disease over the weeks. This reduction, from 1.20% to 0.0014%, is encouraging but should not obscure the seriousness of the situation. Surveillance teams have been instructed to strengthen preventive measures, particularly in the face of the risk of introduction of the Marburg virus disease, currently raging in Rwanda.
In an interview with Radio Okapi, the WHO representative in the DRC, Boureima Hama Sambo, highlighted the relative success of the monkeypox vaccination campaign in the provinces concerned. Nevertheless, it is essential to remain vigilant and continue efforts to stem this epidemic that has been raging in Central and West Africa since the 1970s.
Mpox, which spreads through contact with infected animals and between individuals, represents a major challenge for the Congolese health authorities. With thousands of cases linked to the West African variant identified in more than 110 countries worldwide, it is imperative to strengthen preventive measures and raise awareness among the population about the importance of vaccination.
In conclusion, the fight against monkeypox in the DRC requires unprecedented mobilization to contain this devastating epidemic. Authorities, public health actors and the population must join forces to stop the spread of this deadly virus and protect the health of all.