A conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has led to over 500 mpox patients fleeing clinics due to rebel looting. The patients risk spreading the highly contagious disease, which is suspected to have killed 900 people in the country last year.
The Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have seized control of two cities, Goma and Bukavu, causing chaos and disrupting health services. Clinics in these areas have been looted, leaving equipment and medicine behind.
“we were looted. we lost equipment. it was a disaster,” said Dr Samuel Muhindo, who runs a clinic in Goma. The clinic’s 128 patients fled after the fighting ended in January, but their medical records were left strewn on the floor.
The situation has worsened as displaced people have been forced to leave camps due to the rebels’ decision. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is concerned about an outbreak of mpox in these areas.
“once again, we are calling really for the ceasefire and also the agency to establish a humanitarian corridor to facilitate the continuation of mpox interventions,” said Dr Ngashi Ngongo, Africa CDC’s mpox incident manager.
The country’s ability to respond to the disease has been hampered by the conflict and lack of funding. The UN children’s agency (Unicef) and British government aid have funded some clinics, but others remain understaffed and under-equipped.
The situation is further complicated by a new variant of mpox with high potential for higher transmissibility having been detected in DR Congo.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgne2v4p12o