Highlights:
Mpox transmission continues in 23 of the country’s 26 provinces.Equator, North Kivu, Sankuru, South Kivu, South-Ubangui, and Tshopo remain the most affected provinces.
UNICEF is supporting 50 mpox treatments with nutrition intervention; 14 in South Kivu, 10 in Equator, 12 in Sankuru, 2 in North Kivu, 3 in Tshopo, 3 in Kinshasa, and 6 in South Ubangi.
Over 51 million people across DRC were reached with information on mpox prevention, symptoms, and health services through SMS, digital platforms, national and local media, influencers, and face-to-face engagement.
In November, 19,000 children and families affected by mpox benefitted from mental health and psychosocial support; care and child protection services in North Kivu and South Kivu, Sankuru, Equator, South Ubangi and Kinshasa provinces.
The second round of the mpox vaccination campaign was launched successfully on 28 November 2024, in Equator, North Kivu, South Kivu, Sankuru, South Ubangi, and Tshopo provinces.
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION OF MPOX IN THE DRC
As of 30 November 2024 (Epidemiological Week 48), Democratic Republic of the Congo reported 51,194 suspected cases of mpox, 11,258 confirmed cases and 1,224 deaths. The case fatality rate stands at 2.39 per cent. The laboratory testing has improved, compared to previous months of September and October 2024, currently at 50.1 per cent (3,164 samples were collected, 3,001 were tested and 1,505 were positive).
In November, the following seven Provincial Divisions of Health (DPS) of South Kivu, Tshuapa, Sankuru, North Kivu, South Ubangui, Equator and Bas-Uélé provinces accounted for 85 per cent of the mpox cases reported. Since the second peak in suspected cases observed in September 2024, the Epi curve remains stable with the DPS in North Kivu, Sankuru, South Kivu, South Ubangi, and Tshopo provinces remaining the epicenter for the suspected cases reported. Cases have also been reported in Kokolo prison in Kinshasa province as well as in the prison in Béni health zone in North Kivu. The worrying situation on the epidemiological context is the overlapping increases in measles and mpox cases were observed throughout the year and up to the end of November.
As regards surveillance, contact tracing is still a challenge, even though in November 2024, a slow progression has been observed with 26 per cent of the high-risk contacts followed in the hotspot areas. This level of surveillance is still insufficient to control the transmission of mpox. However, with the implementation of UNICEF strategy for the institutionalization of Community Health Workers will contribute to improving contact tracing in the areas where UNICEF is providing support.