In eastern DRC, healthcare workers are combating a severe mpox outbreak, which has been exacerbated by the ongoing conflict with M23 rebels. The disease, formerly known as monkeypox, has surged due to a new, rapidly spreading clade 1 strain. Doctors, already stretched thin from previous Ebola and COVID-19 crises, rely on symptom-based care due to a lack of specific antiviral treatments for mpox. While there are vaccines that can stem the disease’s spread, they are not readily available in the country. However, Health Minister Roger Kamba announced last week that the government has ordered three million doses of the vaccine to help combat the disease. The outbreak is particularly challenging in displacement camps, where poor hygiene conditions heighten the risk of spread.
SOURCE: AL JAZEERA
Doctors in DRC Take On Mpox Outbreaks Amid Conflict
