The ongoing Mpox outbreak, classified as a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization, is significantly impacting children in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This year, nearly all reported cases and around 450 deaths have been linked to this nation.
Alain Matabaro recounted how his six-year-old son, Amani, initially developed a small irritated area that led to a liquid discharge when squeezed. Subsequently, more spots appeared, quickly spreading across his body. After a four-day treatment at a clinic in Munigi, near Goma, there was an evident improvement in Amani’s condition.
Dr. Pierre-Olivier Ngadjole from the charity Medair estimates that about 75% of the cases observed at their facility are in children under ten years old. The pandemic poses a particular threat to youngsters due to their underdeveloped immune systems. Dr. Ngadjole attributes the spread of Mpox to the overcrowded conditions at a nearby camp for people displaced by violence, where children engage in close play, disregarding social distancing measures. He notes that many children sleep together in cramped quarters, facilitating daily transmission.
Since June, the Munigi clinic has treated 310 cases of Mpox and offers free services, including paracetamol, safe drinking water, and medication for skin infections. Currently, the clinic sees five to ten new admissions each day, and no fatalities have been reported, which Dr. Ngadjole believes is due to early medical intervention.
Dr. Ngadjole emphasizes the importance of providing free health services, which encourages timely visits to medical facilities without financial barriers. However, at a hospital in Kavumu, located 80 kilometers southwest of Munigi, the situation is less favorable. There, 800 patients under the age of five have been treated since June, and eight of them have died.
Nzigire Kanigo, a mother of two-year-old Ansima, initially misidentified her daughter’s illness, believing it was measles. After unsuccessful home treatments, they sought help at the hospital. Grateful for the treatment, she noted that three of her children had recovered and returned home.
Dr. Robert Musole, the medical director at the Kavumu hospital, urges officials not to underestimate the outbreak. He highlights the challenges of accommodating patients and the lack of available medications in the face of high demand.
The region is home to millions displaced by various rebel groups, living in makeshift camps under poor conditions and inadequate sanitation—ideal circumstances for the spread of Mpox.