The ongoing mpox outbreak, which the World Health Organization has classified as a public health emergency of international concern, is significantly impacting children in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This year, nearly all reported cases and over 450 fatalities are linked to the country.
Alain Matabaro recounts his six-year-old son Amani’s experience with the illness, beginning with a small, irritated spot that led to a liquid discharge when squeezed. Soon after, similar spots appeared and spread across his son’s body. After four days of treatment at a clinic in Munigi, close to Goma, Amani’s condition improved.
Dr. Pierre-Olivier Ngadjole from the charity Medair reports that around 75% of cases they have encountered involve children under ten years of age. The mpox outbreak seems to be particularly dangerous for young children due to their developing immune systems.
Dr. Ngadjole attributes the outbreak’s spread partially to overcrowding in a nearby camp for those displaced by violence, noting that children often play closely together and do not adhere to social distancing guidelines. He observes that it is common for multiple children to share a bed, facilitating daily transmission of the virus.
Since June, the Munigi clinic has treated 310 cases of mpox, providing free healthcare services, including paracetamol, safe drinking water, and medication for skin infections. The clinic sees five to ten new admissions daily, yet has recorded no fatalities from the illness, which Dr. Ngadjole attributes to early medical intervention.
Dr. Ngadjole emphasized the importance of accessible healthcare: “It’s vital to offer free health services, especially in this situation. It ensures that people come to the clinic early and aren’t hindered by financial barriers.”
In stark contrast, a hospital located 80 kilometers southwest in Kavumu has experienced a severe situation, treating 800 patients, all under five years old, since June, resulting in eight fatalities.
Two-year-old Ansima Kanigo contracted mpox from one of her four siblings. Her mother, 35-year-old Nzigire Kanigo, initially struggled to identify the illness, suspecting it might be measles since other parents shared similar concerns. After unsuccessful home treatments, they sought care at the hospital.
“May God reward the physician for providing the medications. After treatment, three of my children are now home. Currently, I have only two remaining in the hospital,” she stated gratefully.
Dr. Robert Musole, the medical director of the hospital, warned against underestimating the outbreak’s severity, highlighting the facility’s overload and limited resources: “Accommodating patients is the first challenge, and the availability of medications is the second.”
The eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo houses millions displaced by various rebel factions, often living in inadequate conditions with poor sanitation. This environment is conducive to the rapid spread of mpox.