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Addressing the evolving outbreak of Mpox disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Risk factors, challenges, and recommendations.
  • Olivier Sibomana,
  • Egide Ndayambaje
Olivier Sibomana
University of Rwanda

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Egide Ndayambaje
University of Rwanda
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Abstract

Mpox, a zoonotic disease tracing its origins to 1958, has garnered significant global attention, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the Mpox epidemic a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on July 23, 2022—the seventh such declaration in history. This contagious disease spreads through close contacts, featuring key symptoms such as fever, chills, headaches, weariness, asthenia, lymph node swellings, back pain, and myalgia. Notably, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) stands among the top 10 countries globally grappling with a substantial number of Mpox cases within the ongoing multi-country outbreak. Between January 1 and November 12, 2023, a staggering 12,569 suspected Mpox cases, including 581 suspected Mpox-related deaths (with a case fatality ratio of 4.6%), were documented across 156 health zones in 22 out of 26 provinces in DRC. This commentary delves into the epidemiology of the Mpox outbreak in the DRC, explores transmission risk factors, addresses the challenges in Mpox control, and puts forth insightful recommendations to manage the Mpox outbreak in DRC and worldwide.