The ongoing Mpox outbreak, classified by the World Health Organization as a public health emergency of international significance, is notably impacting children in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Most of the reported cases this year, which have resulted in over 450 fatalities, originate from this region.
Alain Matabaro recounts how his six-year-old son Amani developed the illness, starting with a small irritated spot that later erupted into multiple lesions across his body. After spending four days receiving treatment at a clinic in Munigi, near the key eastern city of Goma, Amani began to show signs of recovery.
Dr. Pierre-Olivier Ngadjole from the charity Medair estimates that around 75% of the cases reported at the clinic involve children under ten years old. The outbreak is particularly severe among young children due to their developing immune systems.
Dr. Ngadjole highlights overcrowding at nearby camps for individuals displaced by violence in the area, which facilitates the spread of Mpox among children who are often in close quarters and do not observe social distancing measures. He notes that they frequently share beds, with multiple children sleeping together, contributing to daily transmission rates.
Since June, the Munigi clinic has treated 310 cases of Mpox, providing free care that includes paracetamol, safe drinking water, and medications for associated infections. Currently, the clinic admits five to ten new patients each day, without any deaths attributed to the illness, as early treatment is being provided.
Dr. Ngadjole emphasizes the importance of free healthcare services, noting that they allow families to seek medical attention without financial hindrance, thus preventing fatalities.
In contrast, the situation at a hospital in Kavumu, located 80 kilometers southwest of Munigi, is concerning. Since June, the hospital has seen 800 patients, all under five years old, with eight reported deaths.
Two-year-old Ansima Kanigo contracted Mpox from one of her four siblings. Initially, her mother, 35-year-old Nzigire Kanigo, did not recognize the symptoms. Other parents mistook the illness for measles, but after unsuccessful home treatments, they sought help from the hospital.
Dr. Robert Musole, the hospital’s medical director, warns against underestimating the outbreak’s severity. He notes that the facility is overwhelmed, with challenges in accommodating patients and a shortage of necessary medications.
Throughout the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, millions of individuals displaced by various rebel factions reside in crowded camps that lack adequate sanitation, creating a conducive environment for the Mpox virus to spread.