Post Reply - On M-pox

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Maniema: a death due to Mpox recorded in Lubutu

July 15, 2024

Lubutu, July 15, 2024 (ACP).- One death due to Mpox (monkey pox), out of nine suspected cases, has been recorded since the beginning of July 2024 in the health zone of Lubutu, Maniema province (in the center-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo), ACP learned Monday from a medical source.

"We confirm the presence of suspected cases of Mpox in the rural health zone of Lubutu. For this current month of July, we have recorded nine suspected cases of Mpox who are interned and monitored at the general reference hospital of Lubutu, among whom there was the death of a 30-year-old woman," declared Dr. Kaleba Kikukama, medical director of this medical training.

"These interned patients present the following clinical signs: high fever, skin rashes in the form of pustules and scabs, mainly affecting the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet, muscle pain, fever, headaches and others." These cases, he continued, come not only from the Lubutu center health zone, but also from neighboring health areas including the Mundo health area which records a high prevalence.

The medical director of the Lubutu general hospital also raised the problem of patient care.

" The hospital takes care of these patients, but there are difficulties in the supply of medicines and other necessary inputs to be used for this care. The patients are treated by external prescriptions ," he lamented.

In this regard, he called on the authorities to come to their aid, especially through support in the form of medication and services from the Ministry of Public Health, including the INRB, for confirmation of the diagnosis.

More than 47 suspected cases of Mpox were also recorded in June 2024 in the Katako health area, located 7 kilometers from Kindu in the Kailo rural health zone.

ACP/ODM