In South Kivu province of eastern Congo, an alarming outbreak of mpox has emerged, leading to serious concerns among health authorities due to its rapid spread. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak a global health emergency, as the virus is being transmitted primarily through skin-to-skin contact. The mining town of Kamituga, which has a population of around 300,000, has become the epicenter of this outbreak, with nearly 1,000 reported cases in the last year. Health officials are particularly worried as the number of infections in Kamituga has increased dramatically, rising from 12 per week in January to 600 per week by August. The region’s limited resources and poor infrastructure are making it difficult to control the virus effectively.

Addressing the outbreak has proven to be a significant challenge, mainly due to the lack of access to vaccines and the difficulty in reaching remote areas. Despite the Congolese government’s allocation of over $190 million to combat mpox, including the purchase of 3 million vaccine doses, only a small percentage of these doses has arrived in affected areas. Local health workers are doing their best to raise awareness about the symptoms, such as fever and blisters, but many residents, especially in rural communities, remain uninformed. International organizations are attempting to support these efforts, yet funding shortages are slowing progress. Despite these hurdles, the WHO remains optimistic that with strong cooperation from governments and aid agencies, the outbreak could be brought under control within six months.