The Mpox outbreak, declared a public health emergency of global 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 over 450 deaths are associated with the country.
Alain Matabaro recounts how his six-year-old son Amani developed Mpox, which started as a minor irritation that quickly spread across his body after being squeezed. Following four days of treatment at a clinic in Munigi, near the crucial city of Goma, Amani began to improve.
Dr. Pierre-Olivier Ngadjole from the charity Medair estimates that around 75% of the cases being treated in the clinic involve children under the age of ten. The disease is particularly severe among the young due to their underdeveloped immune systems. Dr. Ngadjole attributes the spread to the crowded conditions of a nearby camp housing individuals displaced by violence, where children frequently play together and physical distancing is not observed.
There have been 310 cases treated at the Munigi clinic since June, which provides free healthcare services, including medications and safe drinking water. The clinic is currently admitting five to ten new cases daily, but importantly, no deaths have been reported from those treated there, likely due to early medical intervention.
In contrast, the situation is dire at a hospital in Kavumu, 80 kilometers southwest of Munigi, where 800 children under five have been treated since June, resulting in eight fatalities. Two-year-old Ansima Kanigo contracted Mpox from one of her four siblings who were also infected. Her mother, Nzigire Kanigo, initially mistook the symptoms for measles, but after home treatments failed, sought medical help.
Dr. Robert Musole, the medical director of the hospital, warns against underestimating the outbreak’s severity. He emphasizes the facility’s limited capacity and high demand, stating that managing patient care and the lack of medications are critical challenges.
The region is home to millions of displaced individuals living in poor conditions and makeshift shelters, creating an environment conducive to the spread of Mpox.