New Mpox Variant Threatens Congo's Displaced Children

7-year-old Grace Kabuo is among many children afflicted by a new mpox variant in Congo's displacement camps. Local doctors report over 130 suspected cases, predominantly in children. With public health concerns rising, officials are struggling to access vaccines and treatment, while trying to curb the spread of the virus.

Scars from the mpox pustules are still visible on 7-year-old Grace Kabuo’s face, as well as on a handful of her playmates at a camp for displaced people near Goma, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Despite recovering from the virus, Grace's infection was caused by a new variant that transmits more efficiently than previous strains, a concern for disease experts.

Local doctors report 130 suspected mpox cases, predominantly among children and adolescents, within the past month. Dr. Pierre-Olivier Ngadjole of Medair emphasized that 50% of these cases involve children under five.

Amid packed camps, mpox, a contagious viral infection causing flu-like symptoms and lesions, has proliferated. Since early 2023, Congo's outbreak has seen around 27,000 cases and over 1,100 deaths, mostly children.

Microbiologist Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum of Congo’s Insitut National pour la Recherche Biomedicale (INRB) stressed the urgency of the public health crisis. However, vaccine and treatment accessibility remains a challenge, hampered by funding, stigma, and regulatory issues.

At Munigi treatment center, isolation rooms help mitigate spread, yet Clade Ib's transmissibility among children raises further concerns. Monitoring and vaccine acquisition efforts are ongoing, while experts fear potential undetected cases could exacerbate the situation.

Mpox response lead Cris Kacita warned of investigative gaps and the importance of contact tracing. INRB and WHO are actively working on understanding and combating the new variant.

Health officials caution that the number of affected children may rise, as ongoing efforts aim to protect vulnerable populations in the face of this public health issue.