Medical Staff in Goma Battle Growing Mpox Outbreak in Eastern DRC

Healthcare workers in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, are treating a rising number of mpox cases as the disease continues to spread in the eastern regions of the country.

For many decades, Goma has been tangled up in the deadly and ongoing conflict of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Currently, the epicenter of the recent outbreak of mpox (previously referred to as monkeypox) is situated in a city located on the eastern side of an African country.

The incidence of the disease has risen among patients visiting Nyiragongo General Hospital located on the outskirts of Goma, as reported by its staff.

The present strain disseminating throughout the nation shows concerning traits and seems to be even more lethal than its prior forms.

After experiencing symptoms of the disease, Nyota Mukobelwa reported being transported to a hospital in a jeep belonging to Doctors Without Borders.

She sat on a bed inside the isolated mpox treatment area of the hospital’s tents, and shared her experience of contracting the disease.

She said that she initially experienced a headache, fever, muscle pain and groin discomfort. However, when visible spots emerged on her skin subsequent to these symptoms, she concluded that it was likely an infection.

According to doctors and nurses, a majority of the patients arriving are children.

According to Dr. Pierre Olivier Ngadjole, a health advisor at MEDAIR DRC which operates the mpox treatment facility, children below ten years old accounted for 75% of all patients treated for mpox in the clinic.

He added that it is important to note that 70% of the cases received here originate from IDP camps.

As the number of admissions was increasing, Nurse Trésor Basubi grew increasingly concerned.

READ ALSO: Nigeria Reports 39 Mpox Cases, 5,951 Cholera Infections

The prevalence of conflict in the majority of areas neighboring Goma has resulted to a surge of internally displaced individuals who flock various refugee camps situated in and outside the city for safety.

By 2022, over 70 countries worldwide experienced mpox outbreaks that had not been previously documented. Consequently, the WHO announced a state of emergency which endured until mid-2023.

Vaccines and treatments largely brought the disease under control in affluent nations; however, Africa had limited access to doses which remains an ongoing issue.

A new strain of mpox has been discovered by scientists this year, found in a mining town located about 270 kilometers south of Goma in eastern Congo. This variant is thought to have greater infection potential and can result in the death of up to 10% of those infected.

The cases of mpox in Congo have surged considerably, and a minimum of 13 African nations have disclosed recent outbreaks; with four of them experiencing it for the very first time.

The epidemics in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda have been associated with those occurring in Congo.

Furaha Elisabeth arrived at the clinic to receive medical care for her child, who was suffering from mpox.

She expressed fear and concern, stating that images of individuals experiencing the same illness have been presented to her on both television and phone.