World Vision calls for urgent action as deadly mpox variant threatens Africa's children
Press Release - 16th August 2024 - International aid agency World Vision is urgently calling for immediate international action to protect children and their families from a more deadly variant of mpox, which is rapidly intensifying across Central and West Africa.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo alone, 39% of the 7,851 reported cases are children under five years old, with 240 young lives already lost —representing 62% of the total deaths. The pressing need for vaccines, clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services cannot be overstated. Without swift intervention, countless more children are at grave risk of dying from this escalating crisis.
National Director of World Vision DR Congo, Aline Napon said “Children are particularly vulnerable to mpox, especially in low and middle-income countries, including those suffering humanitarian crises and where health and social services are weak or non-existent. Children are especially at risk where they are living in refugee camps, overcrowded urban settlements, and where malnutrition, a lack of clean water and sanitation, and poor health services exist”.
WHO has declared mpox an international health emergency in response to a growing outbreak in Africa. DRC is currently worst impacted, with thousands of children either infected or at risk of infection from the virus. Conflict in DRC is putting populations there at increased risk as displaced people are forced to live in crowded camps, and because sexual violence levels are high.
“The type of contact reported by cases in DRC includes sexual contact, non-sexual direct contact, as well as household and healthcare facility contact. The level of the disease can increase in camps where displaced people are living, due to high levels of sexual violence. These environments encourage the rapid spread of infectious diseases such as smallpox, where close physical contact is almost inevitable. Children living in the DRC, where conflict, displacement and natural disasters are all taking place are in real risk of this serious and rapidly spreading disease,” said Napon.
World Vision is calling upon the international community to respond immediately, put systems in place to halt the spread of this deadly virus, roll out vaccinations, support the sharing of accurate health messaging to reduce misinformation and stigma, and urgently treat those who have been infected.
“World Vision’s experience in tackling Ebola and COVID in humanitarian situations tells us that there is no time to waste. People in DR Congo and other impacted countries need immediate free treatment for mpox. There must also be an immediate immunisation programme set up to prevent further infection and mortality. We cannot stand by while children die from this deadly but preventable disease,” said Napon.
Other facts:
- Of the 7 851 reported mpox cases, 39% were reported in children aged under 5 years (n=3 090), including 240 deaths (62% of the total).
- The most affected provinces in 2024 are Equateur, Sud Ubangi, Sankuru and South Kivu: Cumulative suspected, confirmed and dead cases of Mpox by province in the DRC, S1-S31: Équateur: suspected 5750, dead: 618 - South Kivu Suspected: 3420, dead; 1242.
- Cumulative number of suspected cases from S1-S31 2024: 15664 suspected cases, 548 deaths, a case-fatality rate of 3.5
- Total confirmed cases: 3249 out of 6110 samples analysed
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