As of November, cases among children in the DRC had increased by over 130% from about 11,300 suspected cases to 25,600, while in Burundi, mpox has risen from 89 confirmed child cases to around 1,100 since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
Cases among children in the DRC had increased by over 130% from about 11,300 suspected cases to 25,600, while in Burundi, mpox has risen from 89 confirmed child cases to around 1,100 since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on 14 August.The fast-moving clade 1b strain has disproportionately affected children in the DRC, the epicenter of the outbreak and in Burundi, where they face severe health risks due to hunger, displacement, and limited healthcare. These two countries account for 92% of all mpox cases in Africa this year.
This is really the epicenter of the disease . If we can get things done here, let them be done in accordance with the rules of what we’re asking of ourselves so that the epidemic is controlled. We cannot fail to control this epidemic in South Kivu province and in the DRC.
Dr Boureima Hama Sambo, WHO Representative DRC
The overall risk to the population in the DRC and Burundi remains critically high but particularly to children who are nearly four times more likely to die from the new strain of mpox than adults. Malnourished children in areas with poor sanitation and limited healthcare lacking access to testing and vaccines, are at an even greater risk of contracting and succumbing to the virus.
The first step was to set up this space, as we were receiving both confirmed positive cases and suspected cases. We organized the space to have separate areas for positive cases and suspected cases. We also assembled a dedicated team to handle these cases, appointing doctors and nurses seconded from other departments specifically for mpox. Patients who improve clinically are discharged and advised to remain in isolation for at least three weeks.
DR. Fidel Cishahayo, Manager, Rwagaore Clinic
While the global mpox epidemic in 2022 was curbed through targeted vaccinations for vulnerable groups, similar actions are urgently needed to stop the spread among high-risk communities, particularly in the DRC and Burundi . This includes comprehensive testing and awareness-raising campaigns about mpox and the availability of vaccines.
