Congolese Civil War Threatens Mpox Response

The AP (3/11, Barhahiga, Asadu) reports, “Hospitals across eastern Congo that were once at the forefront of the country’s response to the mpox outbreak are facing a setback in detecting the disease and offering treatment following the advance of Rwanda-backed rebels in the region.” Fighting between the M23 rebel group and Congolese troops is escalating “in eastern Congo, which has been the epicenter of the health crisis.” Although Congo “saw a 31% weekly increase in mpox cases last week, bringing the total to 16,255, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” just seven out of the 26 provinces “reported cases last week.” Africa CDC’s mpox incident manager Dr. Ngashi Ngongo “told reporters last week that authorities have started negotiations...to allow for humanitarian access in conflict zones.” Meanwhile, Congo continues to “battle other diseases in the east, including cholera and measles, in addition to mysterious outbreaks that recently started in the northwestern region.”