Key Points
- DR Congo sees a drop in daily mpox cases due to vaccinations.
- Nearly 30% of mpox cases affect children, highlighting urgent risks.
- WHO urges vigilance as DR Congo remains a global mpox hotspot.
Healthcare workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern region report a significant drop in new mpox cases following the rollout of vaccinations in October. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) cautions that it is too soon to declare victory over the outbreak, which has claimed at least 900 lives in the country this year.
Vaccine Rollout Brings Hope
Medics at Lwiro Clinic in South Kivu, once overwhelmed by long queues of infected patients, have noted a marked improvement. Nurse Emmanuel Fikiri said the hospital now receives only two or three new cases daily, compared to 10-15 cases earlier in the year.
“This improvement is due to vaccinations and support from partners that allow us to care for patients,” Fikiri said. DR Congo launched its vaccination program in October, focusing on high-risk communities, after receiving 265,000 donated doses. Over 50,000 people have been vaccinated, and local healthcare workers report high uptake in these areas.
Challenges in Protecting Children
Despite progress, experts remain concerned about mpox’s disproportionate impact on children. Nearly 30% of those affected are under 18, yet children were excluded from initial vaccination efforts. The WHO has now authorized a vaccine for children, expected to arrive from Japan.
According to a report by Ghana Web, Dr. Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), emphasized the urgency of addressing this gap. “Children are also vectors of transmission,” he said.
Among those affected is three-year-old Atukuzwe Banissa, whose mother rushed him to Lwiro Clinic after his symptoms escalated. “He looked like he’d been scalded by hot water,” she said.
The Road Ahead
While healthcare workers are optimistic, WHO Incident Manager Dr. Samuel Boland warns against complacency. “Though we’ve seen a plateau in cases, DR Congo remains one of the most affected countries globally,” he said, noting that over 90% of global mpox deaths this year occurred in the country.
Efforts to combat mpox include expanding vaccination programs, improving laboratory testing, and reinforcing surveillance systems. Neighboring countries such as Rwanda and Nigeria have also launched vaccination campaigns.
Dr. Kaseya anticipates that infection rates and deaths may decline by early 2024 with sustained interventions. WHO officials are expected to assess the situation soon to determine whether to maintain the global public health emergency status.
Despite the progress, experts stress the need for continued vigilance to prevent a resurgence of the outbreak and to protect vulnerable populations.
