Inongo, May 10th, 2023 (CPA) – Some thirty people have died in the last three months as a result of a severe epidemic of Monkeypox, or monkeypox, which is currently raging in the urban-rural health zone of Inongo in the province of Mai-Ndombe in the Democratic Republic of Congo. « The Monkeypox epidemic that has been raging for almost three months in this health jurisdiction has caused the death of around 30 people, including adults and children. The means of response and the strategies to be put in place were at the center of an important meeting organized on Monday at the central office of the urban-rural health zone of Inongo, » said Mr Mbokolo Mputu, who supervised the meeting.
« This epidemic, which is raging in several localities in the Bolia sector, notably Boliawiyangwa, Isango, Itito, Boliompeti, Lokanga and Mbale, has spread to the Ibenga and Ngongiyembe groups in the Inongo sector. 20 health areas out of a total of 34 are affected by this epidemic, » he said. « I have just come back from a trip to Ngoyiyembe where I saw several cases of Monkeypox among the population, » said Faustin Bongo Mpia, a provincial health inspector. The National Program for the Control of Monkeypox and Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers (PNLMPX-FHV) said that except for the provinces of Kinshasa, South Kivu and Haut-Katanga, all other provinces are affected by the disease. Since the beginning of the year, the DRC has recorded 2,061 cases of monkeypox, including 86 deaths. Worldwide, more than 5,000 cases are reported each year.
Monkeypox is an infectious viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus that is characterized by rashes, fevers, headaches, muscle and back pain, lack of energy and adenopathy. It is a condition that most often develops in peripheral areas and is easily contracted by direct contact with the patient. It is an emerging disease for which there are many challenges to be met; particularly those related to the vaccine, specific drugs, the reception of rapid tests and the investigation of cases, recalls the PNLMPX-FHV.) ACP/
