The World Health Organization (WHO) is sounding the alarm about a large Mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). As the UN organization in Geneva announced, more than 13,000 suspected cases and more than 600 deaths related to the disease, formerly called monkeypox, occurred in Congo from January to mid-November.
The outbreak “poses a risk to people in DRC, in neighboring countries and around the world,” said WHO expert Rosamund Lewis. The WHO is currently working with the authorities in Congo to expand testing capacity and bring vaccines into the country.
Sexual transmission proven for the first time
According to Lewis, the increasing spread in Congo is linked to sex work. Because of the many border crossings between Congo and neighboring countries, the WHO is concerned about the regional spread of the viral disease. The WHO is also alarmed because sexual transmission of the Mpox virus strain that is prevalent there was detected for the first time in the Congo.
Another strain of the virus spread in many countries from May 2022, primarily through sexual contact. There were also thousands of cases in Germany. The WHO declared an international health emergency, which was lifted last May.
Mpox viruses are transmitted through close physical contact. The most noticeable symptom of the disease are blisters and pustules on the skin.
