Disease

Monkeypox Outbreak in DR Congo

At least 20 suspected monkeypox cases have been reported since the beginning of the week in Tshuapa district, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Sources say that 18 of the suspect cases are hospitalized at a hospital in the town of Ikela. Despite not being laboratory confirmed, the Chief Health officer in the Mbamba health area, Dr Jean-Pierre Inonga said they are calling the cases monkeypox based of several telltale symptoms presented – fever, scabs and generalized skin rash .

The resurgence of the viral disease is believed to be due to consumption of game animals found dead in the forest by the public.

Monkeypox is a relatively rare disease caused by the virus with the same name, which is found primarily in central and western Africa. It is closely related to the smallpox virus (variola), the virus used in the smallpox vaccine (vaccinia), and the cowpox virus. Infection with monkeypox is not as serious as its cousin, smallpox; however, human deaths have been attributed to monkeypox.