Congo’s Mpox Cases Show Signs of Stabilizing, But Experts Call for More Vaccines

livewell
November 8, 2024
Noah Bennett

Mpox Cases in Congo

According to some health officials, Mpox cases in Congo are stabilizing, which indicates that the efforts of international organizations are working effectively. Previously in August, WHO declared a global emergency due to widespread cases of this viral disease in Africa. The recent developments showcase encouraging signs that the risk of the disease has reduced and it may come under control in the near future.

According to WHO, the lab-confirmed cases of Mpox in the country are between 200 and 300 per week, which are considerably lower than their average numbers in July (around 400 per week). The most worrying factor of the virus is its new version that initially emerged in Kamitogo, an eastern mining town in the Congo. The report also highlights this situation in Kamitogo, where the cases are also on a decline like in other parts of the country.

However, despite this drop in cases, there are still some concerns about the situation. The World Health Organization acknowledged recently that tests are only conducted for 40% to 50% of suspected cases in Congo. Therefore, the original numbers of Congo Mpox cases are likely to be higher than tested cases. Additionally, the virus is spreading in some parts of the country and also neighboring countries, such as Uganda.

Another confusion about Mpox is due to fewer scientific studies than many related cases. Scientists are still not sure about the cause of the spread of this virus, which hinders efforts to control the disease effectively.

Limited Number of Vaccines

The biggest frustration for health experts regarding Mpox cases is the lower number of vaccines the affected country has so far received. Currently, there are 265,000 vaccines in the Congo, and nearly 50,000 people have received vaccinations. It is far lower when compared to the population of this African country (110 million), which hinders mpox vaccination efforts. According to estimates, the number of vaccinated Congolese is fewer than half the number who are most at risk. Therefore, these vaccines are insufficient to control Mpox virus in Congo.

According to the Congo director for the International Rescue Committee, they are short of the received vaccines, which are only for adults and do not protect kids. The primary donors of these vaccines are UNICEF and some developed countries, such as the USA. The Director of the Global Health Institute at Duke University is unsatisfied with this situation because it doesn’t allow vaccination at scale in Africa and signifies mpox vaccine need.

This year has seen nearly 43,000 Mpox cases in Africa, resulting in over 1,000 deaths. Most of the cases and deaths are recorded in Congo. The most widespread Mpox epidemic was recorded in 2017. It emerged from Nigeria and affected people in more than 100 countries.

What is Mpox?

Mpox is a viral disease similar to smallpox. Its symptoms include rash, chills, muscle aches, and others identical to those present in patients suffering from flu. The two subtypes of Mpox (Clade I and Clade II) are endemic to Central and Eastern Africa, respectively. The latest global outbreak of Mpox started in 2022 and has affected over 100,000 people around the globe. Therefore, increasing the number of vaccines to Africa can enhance mpox outbreak control.