The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is facing a significant outbreak of mpox, with a particularly deadly variant, CL 1B, causing nearly 177,000 cases and over 570 deaths this year. The outbreak has also spread to neighboring countries and as far as Sweden and Thailand. Children and young people are disproportionately affected, with crowded living conditions in displacement camps exacerbating the spread. The World Health Organization and other health bodies are calling for increased aid, including vaccines and medical supplies, as African countries, including the DRC, lack the necessary resources to combat the outbreak effectively.
- The new CL 1B strain of mpox is primarily affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo, with nearly 177,000 cases and over 570 deaths reported this year.
- The outbreak has spread to neighboring countries Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, with cases also confirmed in Sweden and Thailand.
- Children and young people are more likely to contract mpox and face a higher risk of death from the infection.
- Living conditions in displacement camps, crowded and lacking in hygiene facilities, contribute significantly to the spread of the disease.
- The DRC and other African countries have developed or updated outbreak response plans, but there is an urgent need for international solidarity to provide the 3 million doses of vaccines requested by the DRC.
- African countries currently do not have access to mpox vaccines, with a single dose costing over 200 Euros in European countries, though a negotiated price has brought it down to approximately €14 per dose.
- Health organizations, including the Africa CDC, are working to distribute medical supplies and vaccines to remote and conflict-affected areas, leveraging systems established during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Efforts are underway to educate communities, particularly focusing on children’s protection, with up to 60% of those affected in the DRC being children.
- UNICEF and other organizations are involved in designing communication messages and strategies to educate communities on preventing the spread of mpox.
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