The World Health Organization is reporting that there are major outbreaks of Monkeypox in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
But, so far Burundi has confirmed three cases of Monkeypox in Bujumbura and Isare, as verified by the country’s national laboratories as well as the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Burundian health ministry has however assured the public that measures are in place to manage the disease, with patients currently receiving treatment and showing improvement.
The East African Community (EAC) Secretariat in Arusha reports that the Democratic Republic of Congo has experienced 7,858 cases of Monkeypox (now simply known as Mpox) in the first five months of 2024, when 384 people died from the disease.
In 2023, there were 14,626 cases of Monkeypox in DRC causing a total of 654 deaths.
Since 2022, the Democratic Republic of Congo has reported over 21,000 cases and more than 1,000 deaths, according to the World Health Organization.
Many of those infected are children under five accounting for nearly 40 percent of the cases.
Also nearly two-thirds, or 62 percent of the deaths are also among children. Health experts have identified a new strain of the virus in one part of the country.
Burundi borders DR Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania while the DR Congo also borders Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and South Sudan.
The Deputy Secretary General of East African Community, Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth who is also in charge of EAC Infrastructure, Productive, Social and Political Sectors, emphasised the importance of taking preventive measures to minimise the spread of Monkeypox.
Mpox was first discovered in monkeys in 1958, with the first human case reported in 1970. The virus spreads from animals to humans and between people through close contact, contaminated objects and respiratory droplets.
Symptoms include a skin rash or lesions, fever, intense headache, muscle aches, back pain, general body weakness and swollen lymph nodes, typically lasting two to four weeks. While most cases are moderate, severe cases and deaths can occur.
To reduce the risk of contracting Mpox, the public is advised to avoid contact with individuals diagnosed with the virus or those who may be infected; Wear a face mask when in close contact with symptomatic individuals; Use personal protective equipment when caring for confirmed or suspected cases and Wash hands with soap and water or use alcohol-based sanitizers after contact with infected persons or animals.
Also is is important to regularly wash clothing and bedsheets at high temperatures; Ensure meat is thoroughly cooked before consumption; andAvoid contact with sick animals, particularly rodents and non-human primates, and refrain from handling bush meat.
Individuals suspecting that they may have contracted Mpox should self-isolate and seek medical advice immediately.
While a vaccine against Mpox is available, vaccination primarily for those at high risk of exposure and Treatment focuses on alleviating symptoms, such as pain management is advised.
The EAC will convene a meeting of health experts to deliberate on the situation.
However, in anticipation of pandemics and epidemics in the region, the EAC, with support from the German Government through its development arm GIZ and the Africa CDC, has established a pool of rapidly deployable experts ready to be deployed in areas of disease outbreaks in the EAC.
GIZ has also supported the EAC in strengthening 10 border areas with the DRC and other EAC partner states by providing handwashing facilities and health promotion activities to encourage protective health and hygiene (WASH) behaviours, aiming to prevent the spread of zoonotic and water-borne infectious diseases.
This health and hygiene promotion initiative has reached 700,000 individuals. The first phase of the WASH project in 2021-2022, conducted in six EAC Partner States reached about 5 million individuals.
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