In brief
In Kinshasa, DRC, mpox is on the rise with new strains emerging, particularly in vulnerable communities. Overlooked vaccines remain unused, raising alarms about the virus's potential spread throughout packed and impoverished neighborhoods.
In Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the mpox virus has emerged as a growing health crisis. Affected individuals like Mireille Efonge have recounted their harrowing experiences after contracting the virus, which was initially unfamiliar to many in the capital. Efonge, suffering painful lesions and debilitating symptoms, sought medical help, but by August, when she fell ill, mpox was still relatively unknown in a city of 17 million.Healthcare experts reflect on missed opportunities to contain this outbreak as new strains have rapidly emerged, compelling the World Health Organization to declare a public health emergency. The virus, linked to smallpox, is now gaining traction in overcrowded camps housing millions of displaced Congolese. These camps — characterized by inadequate shelter and limited access to clean water — provide fertile ground for the virus to spread.Kinshasa's burgeoning mpox cases reflect a dire situation exacerbated by the inefficacy of health responses, notably the hundreds of thousands of unused vaccines sent to the country. Addressing this public health threat has become increasingly urgent to avoid widespread contagion among the vulnerable populations in the capital and surrounding regions.
