Crisis in DR Congo: Over 500 Mpox Patients Displaced Amidst Ongoing Conflict

As fighting escalates in eastern DR Congo, more than 500 mpox patients have fled healthcare facilities due to rebel attacks, raising concerns about the spread of the disease and the capacity to manage ongoing healthcare crises.

In a troubling turn of events, over 500 patients suffering from mpox have fled healthcare clinics in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as conflict continues to ravage the region. Health officials report that the surge in patient displacements has been exacerbated by recent looting incidents, with critical medical supplies and records destroyed in the chaos.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) expressed deep concerns regarding the missing patients, who may contribute to the spread of mpox, a disease that is highly contagious and claimed nearly 900 lives in the country last year. In recent reports, nearly 2,890 mpox cases have been documented in DR Congo since the start of the year, alongside 180 associated deaths.

Dr. Samuel Muhindo, who oversees a clinic in Goma, recounted the harrowing experience of 128 patients fleeing the Mugunga health center during the violence. Compounded by the destruction of essential documentation, tracing these patients has proved nearly impossible. Additional reports reveal that the situation has worsened, as looters have taken vital medicines and protective equipment from health facilities while inciting fires in the vicinity.

With the rebel group M23 pressing forward, closing what used to be refugee camps, earlier assurances of “voluntary return” have fueled fears of an mpox outbreak in areas where the displaced have sought refuge. Dr. Muhindo and other health experts have called for an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of a humanitarian corridor to facilitate necessary mpox interventions.

Africa CDC officials also noted a rise in the number of missing mpox patients as the violence escalates, with a new variant of mpox posing potential threats due to its increased transmissibility, further complicating efforts to combat the outbreak.

Despite these challenges, the Mugunga facility, funded by UNICEF and UK Aid Direct, has recently reopened but remains severely overburdened, often requiring multiple patients to share a single bed.

For many, the situation has turned dire. Sadiki Bichichi Aristide recounted his fear and desperation after fleeing from Minova to Goma, witnessing numerous cases of mpox, and seeking treatment for himself and his two children at the Mugunga clinic.

Dr. Oummani Rouafi, a health specialist for UNICEF, highlighted the resilience of healthcare staff who managed to protect some resources from looters, allowing the facility to remain partially operational. Nevertheless, numerous other treatment centers have fallen victim to looting, leaving countless patients without access to crucial medical care.

The struggle to contain mpox amidst the turmoil of a protracted conflict illustrates the urgent need for peace and a coordinated humanitarian response.