Armed conflict disrupts mpox response in DR Congo
February 6, 2025
Africa CDC officials report escalating challenges in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) North Kivu province, where intense conflict is hampering mpox response efforts. Patients fleeing treatment centers and disruptions in lab testing have led to underreporting. Meanwhile, Uganda and Zambia are experiencing rising cases, with Uganda’s outbreak driven by sexual transmission networks, complicating contact tracing. Despite this, mpox vaccination efforts have resumed in Goma and Kampala, offering hope. The Biden Administration has disbursed $340 million of its pledged $500 million, yet concerns remain as new U.S. foreign aid policies under President Trump threaten future support.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) North Kivu province remains a critical mpox hot spot, with violent conflict in Goma significantly disrupting response efforts. Africa CDC reports that patients have fled treatment centers out of fear, worsening disease spread. Only 16 of the 143 escaped patients have been located. Meanwhile, sample collection and lab confirmations at the National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB) in Goma have been disrupted, leading to underreporting in North Kivu and neighboring Tshopo province.
Despite these setbacks, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the partial resumption of mpox vaccinations in Goma, although ongoing violence continues to hinder the broader response. Elsewhere in Africa, Uganda and Zambia are seeing a surge in cases. In Uganda, transmission within sexual networks complicates containment, particularly in Kampala, the most affected district. Zambia has reported clade 1b cases in three of its ten provinces, signaling further spread. In contrast, Burundi’s cases are declining, though slow testing turnaround and limited isolation capacity remain challenges.
International support remains crucial. The Biden Administration had pledged 1 million vaccine doses and $500 million in aid, of which $340 million has been disbursed. However, uncertainty looms as President Trump’s foreign aid freeze threatens continued support. GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, is overseeing vaccine distribution, but Africa CDC remains concerned about future supply stability.
As conflict and logistical barriers challenge the containment of mpox across multiple African nations, rapid intervention is critical. The fragile health infrastructure, combined with shifting political landscapes, underscores the urgency of sustained global cooperation in controlling the outbreak before it spreads further.