Kinshasa, DRC – The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has officially declared the end of the national alert for mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, after more than three years of battling the epidemic. The announcement, made by the Minister of Health, signals a significant step forward in controlling the outbreak that has disproportionately affected children.
As of August 31, 2024, the DRC had recorded more than 21,000 suspected cases of mpox, including over 5,000 confirmed cases and 700 deaths. The outbreak has been particularly devastating for children under 15, who account for approximately 60% of suspected cases and 80% of deaths this year, according to UNICEF.
UNICEF has been scaling up its support to the government to protect and save the lives of young children. The organization’s intervention plan prioritizes children under 15 years of age in 12 provinces. “Last week, I visited our intervention center in South Kivu and was able to see firsthand the difference our teams on the ground are making for children,” said Dr. Mariame Sylla, UNICEF’s Deputy Representative in the DRC. “I met a mother who was able to quickly obtain the free treatment her 6-month-old daughter, Merci, needed after contracting the virus.”
The need for continued vigilance remains, as case numbers continue to rise and demands for care increase. UNICEF recently received its first shipment of mpox vaccines, totaling 215,000 doses, with additional shipments expected soon. This vaccine delivery is a critical step in bolstering the DRC’s public health infrastructure and protecting vulnerable populations. The availability of vaccines and ongoing support from organizations like UNICEF are essential to preventing future outbreaks and minimizing the impact of this disease.
This development underscores the importance of international collaboration in addressing global health crises and highlights the ongoing challenges in controlling infectious diseases in resource-limited settings. The end of the national alert is a positive sign, but sustained efforts are needed to ensure long-term control of mpox in the DRC.
