In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a severe mpox outbreak has overwhelmed the healthcare system, with dozens of patients lying on thin mattresses in a makeshift isolation ward in the town of Kavumu. The hospital is struggling with shortages of medicine, space, and other essential resources as it attempts to manage the surge in cases.
The World Health Organization recently declared this outbreak a global public health emergency, highlighting the dire situation. President Felix Tshisekedi has authorized a $10 million fund to combat the outbreak, and vaccines are expected to arrive soon to address the new strain of the virus.
Despite these efforts, the situation on the ground remains critical. Over the past three months, the Kavumu Hospital has admitted 900 symptomatic patients, and resources are quickly running out. Dr. Musole Mulamba Muva, the head doctor at the hospital, has expressed frustration over the dwindling international aid and the challenges of managing the outbreak with limited local resources.
The hospital’s mpox ward is overcrowded, with 135 patients, including both children and adults, crammed into three large tents without proper flooring. To prevent contamination, relatives who usually provide meals for patients have been barred from visiting, leaving patients without sufficient food.
The outbreak has forced families to resort to traditional remedies to alleviate the suffering of their loved ones. In the absence of adequate medical supplies, mothers like Nzigire Lukangira have been using substances like potassium bicarbonate and salty lemon juice to treat their children’s blisters.
The conditions at the hospital are dire, with patients receiving minimal care due to the lack of resources. The head of Congo’s mpox response team, Cris Kacita, acknowledged the challenges in delivering medicine to affected areas and emphasized the importance of distributing the 115 tonnes of medicine provided by the World Bank.
Mpox, which causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions, can be deadly, especially for vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems. In the Kavumu area, the majority of cases have originated from the town itself and nearby villages, leading to the establishment of two additional makeshift wards.
Local health officials, including Dr. Serge Munyau Cikuru, have urged the government to continue advocating for vaccines to control the outbreak. Kacita mentioned that high-risk contacts and nine priority areas have been identified for the initial phase of vaccination.
As of August 31, 2024, the Congolese health ministry reported 19,710 suspected mpox cases since the beginning of the year, with 5,041 confirmed cases and 655 deaths. The high number of fatalities underscores the severity of the outbreak and the urgent need for effective interventions, including the arrival of vaccines and the distribution of medical supplies.
The situation in Congo remains a critical public health concern, with healthcare workers and families struggling to cope with the outbreak’s devastating impact.
