At least 25 cases of a dangerous new strain of mpox spreading through the Democratic Republic of Congo have been detected in the eastern city of Goma, mostly in camps housing people fleeing a surrounding conflict, health authorities said on Wednesday.
Congo has seen 20,000 cases and more than 1,000 deaths from mpox, mainly among children, since the start of 2023. Over 11,000 cases, including 443 deaths, have been reported so far this year.
Authorities recently approved the use of vaccines to tackle the upsurge, but none are currently available outside of clinical trials in the country.
The head of the national response team against the mpox epidemic, Cris Kacita, said in an interview that most of the new reported cases were in displaced people camps.
He said cases were infected with a new strain of the virus that is spreading in South Kivu province. Goma is the capital and largest city of the neighbouring North Kivu province.
The World Heath Organization (WHO) and scientists raised the alarm last month about the mpox situation in Congo, including the spread of a new strain of mpox spreading in South Kivu.
Mpox has been endemic in Congo for decades but a new variant of the clade I of the virus emerged last year. It is a viral infection that spreads through close contact, causing flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. Most cases are mild but it can kill.
A different, less severe form of mpox - clade IIb - spread globally in 2022, largely through sexual contact among men who have sex with men. This prompted the WHO to declare a public health emergency that has now ended, although there are still cases and the agency has said mpox remains a public health threat.
"The national biomedical research institute in Goma has sequenced the virus and this proves that the virus has been circulating for a long time in the city of Goma", Kacita said.
"The risk here is the promiscuity in the camps and the speed with which the epidemic is spreading", he warned.
Hundreds of thousands of people who fled conflict in Congo's insurgent-hit east are staying in overcrowded camps in and around Goma.
The number of displaced has increased since a rebel group known as the M23 launched a major offensive in 2022, prompting national and regional military responses that have struggled to stem the militia's advance.
Latest Stories
-
2024/25 Ghana League: Basake Holy Stars to host Dreams FC in Anyinase after shocking Hearts
53 mins -
I’ll soon take ownership of ‘What Do You Know?’ from GBC – Dan-Afari Yeboah
56 mins -
Life Lounge with Edem Knight-Tay: Paying school fees, providing shelter, meals, clothes, not enough
1 hour -
Two KNUST scientists invited to present at 2024 UN General Assembly Science Summit
2 hours -
Sarkodie is a much better stage performer than Lil Wayne – Andy Dosty
2 hours -
Galamsey: Gov’t will deploy river guards to protect water bodies – Mireku Duker
2 hours -
Election 2024: Review criteria for presidential aspirants – Asah-Asante to EC
2 hours -
President must chair committee on illegal mining -Austin Gamey
2 hours -
Power sector on the verge of collapse – Mahama
2 hours -
Akufo-Addo congratulates Efua Ghartey on election as first female GBA President
2 hours -
Photos from JoyNews/Ecobank 3rd mini Habitat Fair
3 hours -
Multimedia Kumasi celebrates former Relationship Manager for 25 years of dedicated service
3 hours -
Akufo-Addo commissions Jamestown Fishing Harbour
3 hours -
Alan Kyerematen to address 2nd Distinguished Speaker Series on FDI
3 hours -
Ablakwa: How Ghana spent over GH₵85m on stadium renovations and still got a CAF ban
3 hours