Agencies of the United Nations are sounding the alarm over the swift dissemination of the mpox virus in the congested refugee camps in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where conditions are ripe for infection due to weakened immune systems and crowded living spaces. The situation has elevated to a global public health emergency, as declared by the World Health Organisation (WHO), owing to the outbreak transcending Congo’s borders into nearby nations, as well as the emergence of a novel, clade Ib strain of the virus, which has provoked apprehension due to its potentially rapid transmission rate.
Congo grapples with one of the greatest levels of displacement worldwide, with over seven million individuals displaced, including those fleeing from internal conflicts and disaster-stricken areas, plus refugees flowing in from neighbouring countries such as South Sudan, Rwanda and Burundi.
The UN’s refugee body, UNHCR, reports thus far, the identification of approximately 42 suspected cases of mpox in refugee camps and transfer centres located in South Kivu, eastern Congo, which, incidentally, is home to almost two million refugees and internally displaced individuals.
Dr Allen Maina, UNHCR’s head of public health, articulates the enormity of the challenge in implementing mpox control measures amidst those seeking refuge from violent conflict. Isolation upon the manifestation of disease symptoms proves difficult due to a lack of space, forcing the infected to sleep outdoors to avoid spreading the virus in the crowded shelters.
To date, WHO figures indicate the suspecting of over 18,000 mpox cases and the unfortunate demise of 615 individuals in the Congo this year. Mpox, which exhibits flu-like symptoms and results in pus-filled lesions, spreads primarily through sexual contact and close contact with those infected.
Although not yet confirmed, the possibility of the cases belonging to the presumably more contagious clade Ib strain has been suggested by WHO spokeswoman, Margaret Harris, given South Kivu’s history of widespread transmission of this variant. She further observed the refugees being highly susceptible to illnesses due to the stress, fear, displacement and malnutrition they face, leading to compromised immunity, making them particularly susceptible to diseases such as mpox – a fact proven by recent incidents of mpox cases in North Kivu’s displacement camps, including infections amongst children.
Voicing an appeal for emphasis on disease prevention and betterment of camp conditions, Dr Maina underscores the gravity and urgency of the crisis at hand.
Spain’s government has pledged to provide half a million (500,000) doses of the mpox vaccine, equating to a fifth (20%) of their entire supply, in an attempt to counter the current disease outbreak in Africa, according to an official announcement from the Health Ministry on Tuesday. Furthermore, they have encouraged the European Commission to request all EU nations donate a similar percentage from their vaccine reserves.
The Ministry’s argument is that hoarding vaccines in locations unaffected by the outbreak is nonconstructive, and this is the optimal time to demonstrate that. The number of vaccine vials Spain is contributing is 100,000, enough to dispense half a million doses.
This news is brought to you courtesy of Thomson Reuters 2024.