The ongoing Mpox outbreak, classified as a public health emergency by the World Health Organization, is significantly impacting children in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This year, almost all reported cases and over 450 associated deaths have occurred in this country.
One parent, Alain Matabaro, shared the alarming experience of his six-year-old son Amani, who initially developed a small irritated area that quickly spread across his body. After four days of treatment at a clinic in Munigi, close to Goma, Amani showed signs of recovery.
Dr. Pierre-Olivier Ngadjole from the charity Medair noted that roughly 75% of the cases treated in their facility involve children under ten. The outbreak seems to pose a greater threat to younger individuals due to their developing immune systems.
Dr. Ngadjole pointed to overcrowding in a nearby camp for residents displaced by violence as a contributing factor. He highlighted that children often play closely together and neglect social distancing guidelines, further facilitating the transmission of Mpox. Additionally, he observed that many children share beds, which perpetuates the spread of the infection.
Since June, the Munigi clinic has treated 310 Mpox cases and offers free care, including paracetamol, safe drinking water, and medications for skin infections. The clinic currently sees five to ten new patients daily, but fortunately, there have been no reported deaths from the illness there, likely due to early treatment access.
Dr. Ngadjole emphasized the importance of providing free health services in this crisis, allowing patients to seek help without financial barriers.
In contrast, at a hospital in Kavumu, located 80 kilometers southwest of Munigi, the situation has been dire. Since June, the hospital has treated 800 patients, all under five years old, with eight fatalities reported.
Two-year-old Ansima Kanigo contracted Mpox from one of her four siblings. Her mother, Nzigire Kanigo, initially mistook the illness for measles but sought treatment after home remedies failed. Fortunately, three of her children have since recovered and returned home.
Dr. Robert Musole, the medical director at the Kavumu hospital, stressed the severity of the outbreak, citing challenges in patient accommodation and medication shortages.
The region is home to millions of people displaced by rebel activities, often living in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions that create a breeding ground for the Mpox virus.