09 Oct 2024 | 11:28 AM UTC
DRC: Elevated monkeypox (mpox) activity reported in multiple areas, especially South Kivu and Equateur, in October /update 4
Elevated monkeypox (mpox) activity reported in the DRC, especially South Kivu and Equateur, in October. Use basic health precautions.
Health officials have reported elevated monkeypox (mpox) activity in multiple areas in the DRC, with an additional 11,600 cases reported Aug. 30-Oct. 6, bringing the total to 31,350 suspected mpox cases (6,169 confirmed) reported since Jan. 1. This is compared to 14,626 suspected mpox cases reported in 2023. South Kivu (7,000+ cases) and Equateur (6,500+ cases) are the most affected provinces. Other provinces reporting elevated disease activity include Sankuru, Sud-Ubangi, Tshopo, Tshuapa, Mongala, Mai Ndombe, Maniema, North Kivu, and Kinshasa. Health authorities launched mpox vaccination efforts on Oct. 5, prioritizing health workers and frontline responders, contacts of confirmed cases, and other at-risk groups. As disease surveillance and contact tracing continue, officials will likely identify additional cases in the coming weeks. This report represents the most up-to-date information as of Oct. 9.
Practice basic health precautions, including frequent handwashing with soap and water, covering the nose and mouth when coughing, and avoiding obviously ill individuals. Avoid overcrowded areas such as nightclubs and consider using safe sexual practices such as physical barriers (condoms) in countries reporting monkeypox transmission. Seek medical attention if symptoms develop within two weeks of being in affected areas, especially if you have had one or more new sexual partners. Vaccines are available.
On Aug. 14, the WHO declared the mpox outbreak in Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The African region has seen an unprecedented increase in mpox cases since early 2024, with previously unaffected countries like Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda reporting cases. The WHO's declaration aims to prompt a coordinated international response, improve surveillance, accelerate vaccine distribution, enhance public health measures, and mobilize resources to control the outbreak.
Mpox is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, a species of the genus Orthopoxvirus. Mpox is mainly transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected individuals (including intimate or sexual contact), or infected animals, or through contact with contaminated materials. Human-to-human transmission primarily occurs through close personal contact with an infected individual via respiratory droplets, direct contact with bodily fluids, or indirect contact with lesion material - e.g., contaminated clothing or bedding. Symptoms typically appear 3-17 days after exposure but can develop up to 21 days after exposure. Symptoms generally include fever, headache, muscle and back aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and a rash characterized by lesions that progress through several stages before falling off.
