An outbreak of mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern region has raised significant concerns among medical and aid workers, given its location in the densely populated gold-mining town of Kamituga. The virus, which can cause severe lesions, blindness, and even death, has erupted in an area frequented by small-scale miners, sex workers, and truckers traveling between Congo and neighboring countries like Burundi and Rwanda.
The situation is further exacerbated by the presence of 4.2 million internally displaced people in overcrowded camps in South Kivu and North Kivu provinces. These conditions create a breeding ground for the rapid spread of the virus, particularly among the weak and malnourished, including children.
“There are millions of children already displaced, and now there is this outbreak of mpox,” said Katharina von Schroeder, director of advocacy and communications at Save the Children. “The big, big threat is the IDP camps… the fatality rate could be much higher if it isn’t contained.”
The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global health emergency, with about 15,700 suspected cases and around 550 deaths reported this year. While many cases involve an older, less contagious variant, there is concern that the newer strain, which is harder to detect, could spread rapidly.
“We’re seeing a lot of cases among sex workers,” said Roger Kamba, Congo’s public health minister. He noted that the variant is dangerous because it shows fewer external symptoms, and 3.5% of those infected have died.
Kamituga, surrounded by verdant hills, is far removed from South Kivu’s capital, Bukavu. The town, plagued by decades of conflict and predation, remains a critical point of concern due to frequent travel between the area and neighboring countries.
The disease can spread through sexual contact and skin-to-skin contact, making children particularly vulnerable. Compounding the issue is that younger Congolese people haven’t been vaccinated against smallpox, which provides some protection against mpox.
Securing sufficient vaccines is critical, with an estimated 3.5 million doses needed at a cost that Congo, one of the world’s poorest countries, cannot afford. Vaccines currently cost about $100 per dose, a price many African countries cannot bear.
“Mpox is a slow-burning fire that has been allowed to smolder in Central Africa and is flaring up,” said David Tscharke, a poxvirus researcher at the Australian National University’s John Curtin School of Medical Research.
