Rising Cases of Mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo | 05 Dec 2023

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has witnessed a significant increase in Monkeypox(mpox) cases, with 12,569 suspected cases and 581 deaths reported from January to November 2023.

• This surge in cases marks the highest number of annual infections ever recorded, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
• The WHO has also highlighted a growing outbreak of mpox cases linked to sexual transmission in the country.
  • Previously, no documented cases of sexual transmission were reported globally. However, the first-ever confirmed case of sexual transmission was recorded in the DRC.
• Monkeypox, caused by the Monkeypox virus (MPXV), is a viral zoonotic disease endemic in densely forested regions of west, central, and east Africa.
• Symptoms include a severe rash, resembling chickenpox, accompanied by fever, malaise, and headache. Unlike smallpox, Monkeypox exhibits early lymph gland enlargement.
• There is no specific treatment or vaccine available for Monkeypox infection. In the past, the anti-smallpox vaccine, once 85% effective, is no longer widely accessible.

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