Sud-Ubangi: reduction in cases of M-pox in the Budjala health zone

Gemena, April 17^th, 2025 (CPA) – The number of cases of M-pox (monkey pox) has been reduced in the Budjala health zone, in the province of Sud-Ubangi, in the north-west of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), from 3,000 to 3 cases, has learned on Wednesday from a health source. « Thanks to the joint action of our teams from Doctors without Borders (MSF) and local staff, we have gone from 3,000 cases of M-pox to just 3 at present. Unfortunately, 24 deaths have been recorded, but the epidemic curve is now under control« , has indicated Dr Coulibaly Oounna, MSF representative for the M-pox epidemic response project. Mr Oounna has revealed that these statistics have been revealed during a meeting to close MSF’s activities, focused on the response to the M-pox epidemic in the Budjala health zone, held on April 15^th, 2025 in the presence of several personalities including local authorities. For his part, Robert Momeka, the territory’s administrator, hailed the work carried out by MSF in the sector. « MSF has arrived at a time when M-pox was hitting hard the Budjala territory. Today, their mission is coming to an end and we say thank you to them », he has said. The Budjala health zone was the epicentre of the M-pox epidemic out of the 16 health zones that make up the province of Sud-Ubangi. More than 2,000 suspected cases of M-pox have been recorded since the start of the year up to the 37^th epidemiological week (from September 8^th to 14^th, 2024) across the province of Sud-Ubangi, according to the provincial Minister in charge of Health. All the health zones in Sud-Ubangi are affected by this disease, which is caused by the Monkey pox virus, an orthopox virus structurally related to the smallpox virus. The patients initially present with a vesicular or pustular rash that can be painful, and often with fever, malaise and lymphadenopathy. Treatment is generally symptomatic, potentially with antiviral drugs, and prevention includes vaccination, according to experts.