The two factors that complicate the response to deadly virus in the Congo

The conflict in the east of the Congo Democratic Republic (RDC) and the interruption of help from the United States continue to prevent the transport of the samples of the tests of Mpox (Disease known as monkey’s smallpox) Despite the increase in laboratory and testing capacity in the country, the Public Health Agency of the African Union (UA) lamented Thursday.

“Although there is a downward trend (cases) when we observe the situation of the last five weeks, part of this can be explained by the situation of insecurity in the east”The epidemiologist said at a virtual press conference NGASHI NGGGOChief of the Executive Office of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of Africa (CDC of Africa).

The recent escalation of the conflict between the Congolese army and the rebel group Movement March 23 (M23) has made more than 600 patients with Mpox They have escaped from the medical centers where they received treatment, although more than 150 that were in serious condition ended up returning in the city of Bukavu, capital of the province of Kivu del Sur.

In addition to violence, the lack of funds also prevents the transport of samples taken, after the temporary freezing of international aid ordered by the president of the United States, Donald Trump recalled NGGO.

Thus, although it has been possible to move from two laboratories in two provinces with the capacity to test MPOX in July 2024 to 21 laboratories in 12 provinces last February, “The samples are collected but not transported”, Lamented the epidemiologist.

After CDC of Africa They will announce last week the maintenance of the continental public health emergency declaration on the Mpox, NGGO He said that “They are working on the new (…) Acceleration plan to achieve in the coming months control the outbreak on the one hand and in the posterior phase (…) Leave a legacy of a much stronger system”

“We are still working on a cross -border strategy that helps us coordinate the answer in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the RDC”He added.

As detailed by Ngongo, fifteen of the 22 African countries that have registered outbreaks, are in “active phase”, including the RDC – which remains the epicenter of the epidemic with 78,690 infections (16,255 confirmed) and – while seven others are in the call ”Control phase”

The UA Health Agency declared the MPOX on August 13 as an emergency of public safety public health and, the next day, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the international health alert state for the disease, a measure that WHO has also decided to extend, as announced last Thursday.

MPOX is an infectious disease that can cause a painful eruption, an inflammation of lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain and lack of energy.

At the continental level, about 98,000 cases (more than 22,000 confirmed) and more than 1,700 deaths in 22 countries have been registered since the beginning of 2024.