In a statement on his account on the social network X, the health minister explained that from August 12 to 18, the country registered 1,372 suspected cases, including 200 confirmed cases and 35 deaths.

Overall in 2024 the DRC has detected 17,801 suspected cases of Mpox and 610 deaths, for a case fatality rate of 3,4%. “In the west of the country, the most affected provinces are Equateur, Sud Ubangi and Maï Ndombe; in the east are South Kivu and North Kivu; in the south Lualaba and Haut Lomami; in the center Tshuapa, Tshopo, Sankuru and Kasai, and in the north are Mongala or Ubangui North,” he said.

The minister highlighted the efforts of the response teams and the increase in the quality of information on cases throughout the country.

The day before, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) warned that without additional and urgent assistance, the Mpox epidemic could be devastating for refugees and internally displaced persons in the DRC, and called for inclusiveness and international solidarity.

In its report, the organization said that in South Kivu province, one of the regions most affected by the disease, at least 42 suspected cases were identified among the refugees.

The situation of overcrowding, lack of hygiene, food and medicine in these camps throughout the country constitute a risk for the spread of the disease.

There are currently around 7,3 million displaced people in the DRC.

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