Attachments
Highlights:
- More than 48 million people across DRC reached with information on mpox prevention, symptoms, and health services through SMS, digital platforms, national and local media, influencers, and face-to-face engagement.
- 27 October 2024, 47,547 individuals across all target categories were vaccinated in Equateur, North Kivu, Sankuru, South Kivu, South Ubangi, and Tshopo provinces exceeding the target of 45,957, with a low wastage rate of 0.20%.
**EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION OF MPOX IN THE DRC**
Since January 1, 2024, and as of 25 October 2024 (Epidemiological Week 43), the Incident Management System established by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Ministry of Health (MOH), has notified 38,185 suspected mpox cases, with 8,607 confirmed cases, and 1,049 deaths. The case fatality rate stands at 2.7 per cent (for suspected cases). The testing rate has increased from 37.6 per cent on 1 October to 48.4 per cent (14,472 samples analyzed out of 29,926 investigated cases); and the positivity rate stands at 59.5 per cent (8,607 positive samples out of 14,472 samples analyzed), compared to 47.8 percent on 1 October.
South Kivu remains the most affected province with 32 health zones out of 34 continuing to report cases and deaths, with a total 12,124 cases and 52 deaths reported as of October 31, 2024. The province has witnessed an increase in reported cases/deaths in the following health zones; Miti-Murhesa (3,790 cases/17 deaths/CFR 0.4%), Nyangezi (1,614 cases/4 deaths/CFR 0.2%); Uvira (1,264 cases/6 deaths/CFR 0.4%), Kamituga (1,122 cases/8 deaths/CFR 0.7%).
Equator province continued to report suspected cases and as of end October 2024 remains the second most affected province after SouthKivu. Out of a total of 7380 suspected cases, 1262 were confirmed with 374 deaths recorded. The other Northwestern provinces of Tshuapa, Mongola, South Ubangi and North Ubangi continued to report cases. South Ubangi reported a total of 3289 cases, 244 cases were confirmed, and 42 deaths reported. Tshuapa province reported 2434 suspected cases, of which 299 were confirmed with 135 deaths recorded. Mongola province registered 1296 suspected cases, 62 cases were confirmed, and 52 deaths recorded. The epidemic is increasingly moving into North Ubangi province. Out of 297 suspected cases, 17 were confirmed and 7 deaths recorded. It is worthing that both North Ubangi and South Ubangi provinces are bordering Central Republic increasing the vulnerability of cross border transmission of the epidemic if no vigorous action is taken to contain the situation. In North Kivu province, the epidemic spread to another health zone (Itebero), bringing the total number of affected areas to 15 out of 34 health zones.
The cumulative number of confirmed cases as of the end of October 2024 is 525, including 139 new cases during the month of October. No deaths were registered during the reporting period and there were no positive cases among heath personnel. In Kinshasa province, 33 out of 35 health zones are affected registering six hotspot health zones, namely Limete, Lingwala, Police, Kokolo, Nsele and Biyela with cases of both Clad 1A and 1B reported in the province with clades 1A (177cases) and 1B (48 cases) in 42 epidemiologic week. The cumulative number of confirmed cases at the end of October 2024 is 1121, including 264 new cases, three deaths recorded in the last three epidemiological weeks (41, 42 and 43) and no cases of transmission to/among front-line health workers was reported.