Goma : about thirty deaths and more than 3,800 people affected by the monkeypox epidemic in North Kivu

At least 3,843 cases of Mpox have been recorded in the province of North Kivu in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This was stated by the head of the provincial health division in North Kivu. He specified that 28 people were killed by the virus.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Gaston Lubambo, head of the provincial health division, said this during a meeting to assess the spread of the disease on September 19.

“The monkeypox epidemic has continued to destabilize several corners of the Democratic Republic of Congo since its appearance last June. 3,843 cases have been recorded, including 190 recoveries and 28 deaths,” he said.

During this meeting, Gaston Lubambo, accompanied by a large delegation from the provincial health division and partners of this health institution, stressed that measures taken by authorities are beginning to bear fruit, even if the situation remains worrying.

“Currently, the trend is gradually increasing. However, there is no need to panic. We encourage the population to seek treatment quickly and avoid self-medication, which can complicate the situation. The other patients are being properly treated,” said Gaston Lubambo.

The city of Goma, the provincial capital, remains the epicenter of the epidemic, encompassing three health zones, Goma, Karisimbi and Nyiragongo.

The epidemic has spread to eight of the 34 health zones in North Kivu province. The affected areas are: Goma, Karisimbi, Nyiragongo, Oicha, Katwa, Mutwanga, Mabalako and Masisi.

Health authorities are working with health partners to strengthen care and awareness-raising capacities in these areas.

Camps for displaced persons

In sites for displaced persons, people seem to be unaware of the existence of this disease.

“I often hear people talking about Mpox but to tell the truth I don’t know anything about it at all,” says Ayubusa Angélique, a displaced woman.

Furthermore, the situation is all the more worrying with the start of the school year on September 2. The crowded conditions in schools increase risks of transmission of the virus among children. Current preventive measures in schools are considered insufficient, which calls for collective mobilization to strengthen awareness and protection measures.

To contain the epidemic, the population is called upon to strictly comply with hygiene instructions issued by health authorities. These measures include frequent hand washing with soap and water or using ashes, avoiding any direct contact with people infected with the Mpox virus, and the obligation to go to health facilities as soon as first symptoms appear.

Efforts are continuing to raise awareness among communities and ensure that patients are treated in the best possible conditions. Despite the increase in cases, health authorities want to be reassuring about the effectiveness of response measures in place, while emphasizing the need for increased vigilance and general mobilization to stem the epidemic.

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Illustration photo : a man with Mpox in the commercial city of Bujumbura in Burundi (SOS Médias Burundi)