Conflict in eastern DRC worsens the mpox outbreak, with rising cases, fleeing patients, and disrupted medical supplies amid ongoing battles with M23 rebels.

Six weeks after Rwanda-backed rebels seized control of two major cities in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the region is experiencing a significant setback in its fight against the mpox outbreak.

The DRC bears the highest burden of the virus, with its epicenter in the eastern part of the country. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reported that as fighting with the M23 rebels intensifies, more than 600 mpox patients have fled various hospitals.

According to Africa CDC, the country recorded a 31% increase in mpox cases last week, bringing the total number of infections to nearly 16,255. Many patients are now unaccounted for, while newly arrived vaccines are running low due to supply chain disruptions in combat zones. Additionally, hospitals have come under attack, further straining the healthcare system.

“The situation has been very difficult. Insecurity has disrupted everything,” said Dr. Serge Munyahu Cikuru, the medical officer overseeing the Miti Murhesa health zone in South Kivu province. He explained that tracing patients to curb the spread of mpox has become increasingly challenging, and health workers are struggling to maximize the use of dwindling medical supplies.

In response to the worsening crisis, authorities have reportedly initiated negotiations for a temporary suspension of hostilities to establish a humanitarian corridor, allowing essential medical supplies to reach affected areas.

Meanwhile, last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a warning about the continued global spread of the Clade 1b strain of mpox. The virus is transmitted through close contact with infected individuals and causes fever, muscle aches, and boil-like skin lesions. While generally mild, mpox can be fatal in some cases.

Beyond the mpox crisis, the DRC is also grappling with outbreaks of other diseases in the east, including cholera and measles, compounding the region's already dire public health situation.