Over 500 patients have fled mpox treatment facilities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, raising fears of a contagious disease outbreak amidst ongoing violence.
DR Congo's Health Crisis Deepens as 500 Mpox Patients Flee Amid Rebel Violence
DR Congo's Health Crisis Deepens as 500 Mpox Patients Flee Amid Rebel Violence
Health officials express alarm as conflict escalates, risking widespread mpox outbreak in eastern DRC.
More than 500 patients diagnosed with mpox have abandoned their treatment facilities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in the wake of increasing violence from rebel groups over the past month. Reports from health authorities indicate that this mass exodus could exacerbate the spread of the disease, which was responsible for nearly 900 deaths in the region last year.
Clinics in Goma and Bukavu, two cities currently gripped by chaos following assaults from Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, witnessed alarming security breaches. Dr. Samuel Muhindo, in charge of the Mugunga health center, recounted how chaos led to the escape of 128 patients, leaving no records to locate them. He lamented the looting of medical equipment and supplies amid the violence.
Mpox, previously termed monkeypox, presents severe symptoms including fever and skin lesions. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) indicated nearly 2,890 cases and 180 deaths reported within the country since January, amplifying concerns about the new variant identified with potentially higher transmissibility.
Dr. Muhindo stated that looting at the Bisengimana hospital included essential medications and personal protective gear, making it increasingly difficult for healthcare workers to provide necessary care. With the recent closure of camps for displaced individuals in Goma, fears of uncontainable outbreaks in local communities surged. The United Nations children's agency, UNICEF, had partially reopened the Mugunga facility but is already facing acute strain.
As tensions rise, Dr. Ngashi Ngongo from Africa CDC urged for a ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian efforts essential for controlling the outbreak. The situation remains dire as conflict continues to fundamentally undermine the public health response in this resource-strapped region of the country.
New patients like Sadiki Bichichi Aristide, who fled with his children from areas closer to rebel advances, continue to seek refuge in makeshift medical facilities under perilous conditions. Dr. Oummani Rouafi, a health specialist with UNICEF, noted that only facilities that successfully concealed essential resources have managed to remain operational.
Efforts are ongoing, but the health crisis in DR Congo is further complicated by worsening violence, posing dire threats to a fragile health system.
