GOMA: The plight of young Grace Kabuo, bearing visible scars from mpox pustules on her face, exemplifies the growing crisis unfolding in displacement camps near Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. At just seven years old, Grace is among the many children grappling with the effects of a new variant of mpox, a viral infection that has surged within the community.
Her mother, Denise Kahindo, recalls the distress of discovering Grace’s symptoms earlier this month. “I just helplessly noticed the symptoms on her body,” she recounted.
According to local doctors, over 130 suspected cases of mpox have been identified in the past four weeks alone at a nearby medical facility serving displaced persons from camps impacted by conflict between the M23 rebel group and the Congolese government. Dr. Pierre-Olivier Ngadjole, a medical advisor with Medair, expressed concern over the demographics affected, noting that half of these cases involve children under the age of five.
“Children play together in close quarters in the displacement camps, which exacerbates the spread of diseases like mpox,” Dr. Ngadjole explained.
Mpox, characterized by flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions, is typically mild but can lead to fatalities, especially among vulnerable populations. Since the beginning of 2023, Congo has reported approximately 27,000 cases of mpox, claiming over 1,100 lives, with children being disproportionately affected. The recent surge is attributed to a new variant, Clade Ib, which appears more adept at spreading through routine close contact, particularly among children.
“Mpox is a public health challenge not only for Congo but also for the international community. Immediate action is imperative,” emphasized microbiologist Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum, head of Congo’s Institut National pour la Recherche Biomedicale (INRB).
Unlike the previous Clade IIb variant that triggered a global health emergency in 2022, the current outbreak in Congo lacks specific vaccines or treatments available outside clinical trials. Stigma, funding shortages, and concurrent outbreaks of measles and cholera in displacement camps further hinder access to medical resources.
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While Congo recently approved two mpox vaccines, challenges persist in securing funding and navigating regulatory approvals for widespread distribution. International organizations, grappling with logistical hurdles, have been slow to provide aid despite urgent pleas from local health officials.
At treatment centers like Munigi, efforts are underway to isolate and treat infected children using protocols adapted from past Ebola outbreaks. Despite the severity of symptoms observed, including widespread lesions and rashes, the center has managed to discharge 82 patients without fatalities.
Health officials, including Cris Kacita, head of the mpox response for the Congolese government, stress the need for comprehensive investigations and contact tracing to contain the outbreak effectively.
