From fear to hope: How DRC’s Equateur province turned the tide on mpox
December 16, 2025
The mpox outbreak in Equateur province tested the courage of frontline health workers and the resilience of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s health system. As fear and uncertainty gripped clinics in Mbandaka, nurses like Monique Mulo Itala continued caring for patients while fearing for their own families. The turning point came with coordinated international support that delivered vaccines, diagnostics, and infection control resources. The result was a dramatic reduction in cases and deaths. Equateur’s experience shows that when health workers are protected and communities are engaged, even severe outbreaks can be reversed.
The mpox epidemic in Equateur province exposed the human cost of outbreaks that outpace health system capacity. In Mbandaka, nurses and clinicians worked under constant fear, knowing that every patient interaction carried personal risk. For frontline workers like Monique Mulo Itala, professional responsibility meant daily anxiety about bringing infection home. This reality reflects the broader burden borne by health workers during epidemics, especially in settings with limited resources and delayed access to vaccines and diagnostics.
The scale of the outbreak was devastating. Equateur province accounted for more than a third of mpox deaths nationwide in 2024, highlighting how regional disparities can amplify national crises. Yet the subsequent response also demonstrated what coordinated action can achieve. Support from the African Development Bank, the World Health Organization, and the Congolese government delivered a focused intervention centered on early diagnosis, vaccination, infection prevention, and multisectoral coordination.
The results were striking. Rapid laboratory confirmation became routine, contacts were systematically vaccinated, and deaths fell sharply. The decline in confirmed cases by 60 percent is not just a statistical success but a reflection of restored confidence among health workers and communities. Vaccination transformed fear into protection, allowing staff to care for patients without constant dread and helping families regain trust in the health system.
Equally important were investments beyond clinical care. Community outreach reached more than a million people, countering misinformation and promoting preventive behavior. Laboratory upgrades, prevention kits, and expanded diagnostic capacity strengthened the health system for future threats.
Equateur’s recovery offers a clear lesson. Epidemics are not defeated by medical tools alone but by protecting health workers, engaging communities, and sustaining international solidarity. When those elements align, fear gives way to hope and resilience replaces vulnerability.