The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported 16,700 cases of Mpox, with over 570 deaths, as stated by Health Minister Roger Kamba. The country declared a national outbreak in December 2022 and set up an incident management system in February 2023 due to the rising case numbers. Mpox, affecting 17 African countries and beyond, is impacting younger populations, specifically children under 15, a concerning trend in this outbreak. The minister emphasized the importance of preventive measures alongside vaccination as the key defense against the disease. The WHO declared Mpox a global health emergency, highlighting its potential for increased transmission. The Africa CDC also labeled the outbreak a public health emergency for the continent, with a 160 percent surge in new cases reported in 2024 compared to 2023. The emergence of a more fatal variant, Clade 1b, has contributed to the outbreak’s severity, with a mortality rate of 3.6 percent. Efforts by the government and global health organizations aim to contain the spread of Mpox.
Mpox outbreak claims 570+ lives in DR Congo: health minister
