Kavumu, DR Congo: In a makeshift mpox isolation ward in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, dozens of feverish patients lie on thin mattresses on the floor, while overstretched hospital staff contend with severe drug shortages and limited space to manage the influx of cases. Congo remains the epicenter of a global mpox outbreak, which the World Health Organization declared a public health emergency last month.
Vaccines are expected to arrive within days to combat the new strain of the virus, and President Felix Tshisekedi has authorized an initial $10 million disbursement to address the crisis. Despite these efforts, the hospital in Kavumu, which has taken in 900 symptomatic patients over the past three months, is struggling to provide adequate care.
Head doctor Musole Mulamba Muva reported, “We run out of medicine every day.” He added, “There are many challenges we struggle to overcome with our local means,” citing the rapid depletion of donations from international organizations. Last week, 135 patients, including both children and adults, were crammed into three large plastic tents set up on damp earth without floor coverings.
Relatives, who typically provide meals in underfunded public facilities like Kavumu hospital, have been barred from visiting the mpox ward to prevent contamination. Nzigire Lukangira, a 32-year-old mother of a hospitalized toddler, lamented, “We do not have anything to eat,” and recounted her struggle to get medication for her child’s fever, resorting to giving honey to soothe her daughter’s pain.
Cris Kacita, head of Congo’s mpox response team, acknowledged the medicine shortage and emphasized the need to prioritize the distribution of aid, including 115 tonnes of medicine from the World Bank. Mpox, which causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions, is generally mild but can be fatal, particularly for children, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
In the Kavumu ward, patients and their families have turned to traditional remedies to alleviate pain, applying potassium bicarbonate or salty lemon juice to blisters. Most cases have originated from Kavumu and surrounding villages, prompting the establishment of two additional makeshift mpox wards in the region.
Local health ministry representative Dr. Serge Munyau Cikuru has urged the government to continue advocating for vaccines. Kacita mentioned that high-risk contacts and nine priority areas have already been identified for the initial vaccination phase. As of August 31, the health ministry reported 19,710 suspected mpox cases in Congo since the beginning of the year, with 5,041 confirmed cases and 655 fatalities.
