Mpox cases spiking in 10 African nations – University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Officials in the Central African Republic (CAR) are collaborating with neighboring countries to combat the spread of pox, formerly known as monkeypox. An outbreak has been confirmed in various towns and villages within CAR, with recent cases reported in the capital, Bangui.  Democratic Republic of Congo has been severely affected, reporting 20,000 cases and over 1,000 deaths, primarily among children, since the start of 2023. Neighboring countries, including Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, and Nigeria, have also reported numerous cases, raising concerns about the rapid spread of disease. 

CAR’s health minister, Pierre Somse, has called on community leaders and family heads to promptly report symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, sore throat, headaches, rashes, and boils to health officials. He urged the public to avoid contact with wild animals and practice good hygiene, such as washing hands with soap and water after contact with animals or sick individuals. 

Health workers have been deployed to affected areas to transport patients to hospitals where they will be isolated and treated for free. Officials are advising against taking suspected patients to traditional healers, as it poses a risk to both patients and healers. 

CAR government is also coordinating with the Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Chad to manage the disease. Maxime Balalou,  CAR’s communication minister and government spokesperson, emphasized the challenges of controlling spread due to porous borders and the movement of people, particularly cattle ranchers and hunters, across the Congo Basin.