The U.S. Embassy in the Democratic Republic of Congo hosted a roundtable discussion focused on monkeypox plaguing the country. This activity, which brought together representatives from the different offices working on health issues, was intended to provide information on the United States’ support for the response against Mpox.
It was noted that since 2023, the United States government has been closely monitoring the spread of Mpox clade 1 in the DRC and the risk to neighboring countries. Through the Department of Health and international partners, such as the World Health Organization and UNICEF, the U.S. government supports the Congolese government’s efforts to raise awareness, strengthen response measures, and support health professionals.
Despite the efforts made, the United States believes that several challenges remain, namely: access to the most vulnerable people in difficult areas; the lack of health systems for those forced to flee and the displaced; lack of vaccines suitable for children; as well as the financing problem.
“The contribution of this conference was to clarify the role of the American side in the national response, especially how we support this national effort against this scourge of Mpox and answer questions from the community, trying to correct certain erroneous information that exists about disease transmission and prevention methods, including vaccinations. Especially since it is a disease that targets specific populations. This disease is transmitted sexually and by intimate contact in the household, between family members sharing the same sheet, the same bed, or by caring for a sick person at home, but also by multiple partnerships and the absence of protection during sexual interactions, which poses the greatest risk of Mpox infection. So it’s about explaining what steps to take in the community to protect against Mpox,” said Dr. Michael Kinzer, Mpox Country Response Lead, US CDC.
“The United States is funding, through its partners in the country, several pillars of the response, such as transporting samples to the laboratory to confirm cases and identify people already affected by the disease. They also supported communication on risks, the creation and printing of posters, banners and key messages to explain the dangers and risks to the population. We also sent technical experts to directly support the Ministry of Health in laboratory work, epidemiological surveillance, case tracing, contact tracing and all kinds of field work in the provinces most affected by the disease “, he concluded.
For its part, the PEPFAR partner reassured of the availability of the United States’ efforts to support the Congolese government in the fight against Mpox.
“There were 50,000 doses arrived in Kinshasa and deployed in the provinces of the DRC. The American government is committed to supporting the Congolese government until the end of the response,” said Dr. Jack Kokolomani, professor of public health in Kinshasa.
Additionally, the United States encourages other partners to increase their support for the fight against Mpox.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has to date 30,888 cases reported since the start of 2024, including 6,129 confirmed and 988 deaths. According to the Ministry of Health, children are the most affected, representing 70% of cases, and those at risk remain people with Mpox, the sick and healthcare providers.
As a reminder, the DRC benefited from a USAID donation of 50,000 doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine, approved by the FDA, as well as financial support for the deployment of these doses.
As part of American support for African countries, President Joe Biden announced that the United States will donate one million doses of Mpox vaccine to stop the epidemic in Africa.
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