KINASHA 13 November 2024 – A new and highly aggressive strain of the potentially deadly mpox virus is rapidly spreading among children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi, with reported cases more than doubling since a public health emergency was declared in mid-August, according to Save the Children. This fast-moving clade 1b strain has particularly affected vulnerable children in the DRC, which serves as the epicenter of the outbreak, and in neighboring Burundi. Here, children are subjected to severe health risks exacerbated by widespread hunger, displacement due to conflicts, and exceedingly limited access to healthcare services. Alarmingly, these two nations now account for an astonishing 92% of all mpox cases recorded across Africa in 2024.
As of 3 November, the situation has escalated sharply, with the number of suspected cases among children in the DRC skyrocketing by over 130%, jumping from approximately 11,300 to a staggering 25,600. Meanwhile, in Burundi, the number of confirmed child cases has surged from just 89 to around 1,100 since the World Health Organization (WHO) labeled the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on 14 August. The rapid increase highlights the dire and urgent need for intervention.
The overall risk to the population in both the DRC and Burundi continues to be critically high, particularly for children, who are nearly four times more likely to succumb to this new strain of mpox compared to adults. Factors such as malnutrition, lack of sanitation, and insufficient healthcare exacerbate this risk, leaving many children without access to essential testing and vaccination resources, which are vital for combatting the virus effectively.
Mpox manifests through a variety of alarming symptoms, including fever, extensive rashes, painful lesions, severe headaches, and debilitating fatigue. In certain severe cases, children also exhibit respiratory complications, with the disease potentially leading to sepsis—a life-threatening immune response to infection.
According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the total number of suspected and confirmed mpox cases across the continent has surpassed a staggering 46,000 this year alone, with a grim tally of over 1,000 fatalities. This overwhelming figure emphasizes the urgent need for a coordinated response to halt the spread of the virus.
Dr. Katia Vieira de Moraes LaCasse, Save the Children’s Senior clinical manager at the Emergency Health Unit, stated:
“This new mpox variant is still poorly understood, but we do know it is moving quickly between children, especially in the DRC and Burundi, who are already facing severe risks from conflict-driven or climate-driven hunger and collapsing healthcare. As mpox spreads across Europe and other parts of the world, the world must not turn its back on children caught at the heart of this outbreak.
“Children are especially vulnerable to mpox—they explore by touch and taste, don’t always understand health guidance, and have weaker immune systems than adults. They need timely information to protect themselves, and parents need the support to get them immediate care if they fall ill. Addressing children’s anxieties and fears about the outbreak and disruptions to daily life is crucial. By promoting supportive prevention practices, we can help children feel secure and prevent any form of discrimination from taking root.”
While the global mpox epidemic in 2022 was contained through strategic vaccinations targeting vulnerable groups, similar immediate actions are urgently required to curb the spread among high-risk communities, particularly in the DRC. This response should include comprehensive testing and awareness-raising campaigns regarding mpox and the availability of vaccines.
Across the Democratic Republic of Congo, Save the Children is actively engaging with communities to disseminate verified information and combat misinformation, both through personal outreach and mass communication channels. In eastern DRC, our teams are providing vital supplies such as medication and isolation tents, equipping healthcare centers with beds and bedding, distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) for health staff, as well as training community leaders in effective engagement, communication techniques, and alert systems for identifying and reporting suspected cases.
In Burundi, Save the Children is collaborating closely with the Ministry of Health and the Department of Emergency Response (COUSP) to strengthen the country’s health system in light of the mpox outbreak. Efforts primarily focus on reducing the virus’s spread, particularly among susceptible refugee populations, while also enhancing local healthcare capabilities to respond effectively to the crisis. Save the Children’s Emergency Health Unit has dispatched additional specialists in clinical care, operations, and water and sanitation initiatives, working alongside Burundi’s Ministry of Health to ensure that sufficient resources and expertise are available to contain the outbreak and protect at-risk communities.
ENDS
Notes to Editor:
- As of 3 November, DRC and Burundi have reported a combined total of 43,180 mpox confirmed and suspected cases, according to WHO: 2022-24 Mpox (Monkeypox) Outbreak: Global Trends. We calculated shares of cases among children and adolescents (ages 0-19) at 65% for DRC based on WHO estimates of the child share of suspected cases in the country applying this share to the latest suspected case number among all ages of 20 October. In Burundi, we assumed 65% of confirmed cases are among children and adolescents, based on the latest UNICEF report detailing confirmed cases among children, and as in DRC applied this share to the latest confirmed case number for Burundi among all ages.
- Suspected cases were used for DRC given the WHO reports that many cases are not being tested, suggested the number of confirmed cases is not an accurate reflection of the scale of the outbreak. In Burundi, we used confirmed cases since WHO reports most cases in the country are tested.
- According to UNICEF, around 80% of deaths due to mpox are among children – four times more than mpox-related deaths among adults: Mpox Global Response | UNICEF
Welcome, dear readers!
Today, we’re diving into the grim yet bizarrely compelling world of the mpox virus – yes, the one that sounds like a bad sequel to a horror movie but is, in fact, an unwelcome Alex Reed at the pediatric party in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi. I mean, could we *not* make it a horror show for the kids? The newest strain is strutting its way through these nations like it’s on a mission – a not-so-secret mission to infect children, of all people! Apparently, having a normal childhood was so *last season*.
The numbers are staggering and just a touch alarming, having more than doubled since mid-August. You’d think kids just wanted to play hide and seek, not hide and get infected! Children in the DRC, the epicenter of this alarming outbreak, are now facing an existential crisis – you know, the kind where they can’t even feel safe playing tag without fearing a potentially deadly virus lurking around. Speaking of which, a staggering 92% of Africa’s mpox cases this year are from the DRC and Burundi. That’s right, two countries are cranking out 92%! Ouch. Someone give them a break!
The health risks involved here aren’t just your usual Lego-related injuries; we’re talking about malnutrition, displacement, and nonexistent healthcare services that are like the Bermuda Triangle of medical help. It’s enough to make a parent want to wrap their little ones in bubble wrap and lock them in a cupboard until further notice—an extreme solution, sure, but tempting. After all, the rising cases have turned the children’s playground into something more akin to a scene from a bizarre dystopian novel.
Just when we thought mpox was simply a troublesome annoyance (think of it like a cousin who shows up uninvited), it’s now become a serious matter. The number of suspected child cases in the DRC has skyrocketed by over 130%, from around 11,300 to a staggering 25,600. Meanwhile, Burundi is catching up like it’s in a slow-motion race we didn’t ask to see, with cases climbing from 89 to approximately 1,100 confirmed cases. And lest we forget, these children are nearly four times more likely to lose to the virus than adults—like some quirky, unfair game of survival.
Let’s not gloss over the grisly details—mpox is a nasty little piece of work, causing fever, rashes, and lesions that’ll make your last skin rash look like a beauty mark. And if that doesn’t send chills down your spine, how about respiratory problems and, in extreme cases, sepsis? That’s right, you don’t just want to steer clear of this horror show; you want to dodge it like it’s an actual monster lurking under your bed.
Dr. Katia Vieira de Moraes LaCasse from Save the Children puts it all into perspective, stating that this *new* mpox variant is still a head-scratcher, moving swiftly between children. Obviously, kids don’t need another fear to add to their already impressive list of ‘Things to Worry About,’ which may include the whereabouts of their lost toy or the terrifying prospect of doing math homework. To make it worse, hungry, malnourished kids are the most affected! Could you *imagine*? “No, sweetie, we’re not having dessert today because there’s a virus that’s taking it away too!”
But fear not! Save the Children is rolling up their sleeves and getting to work by providing medication, PPE for healthcare providers (because who doesn’t want a fashion statement made of plastic?), and all sorts of training to equip folks on how to deal with suspected cases. No one is throwing in the towel at this point; they’re rallying with a military-esque strategy! And let’s not forget about the mass communication to counter misinformation—because if there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that social media is a wonderful place for non-experts to share their unfounded opinions.
Meanwhile, in Burundi, Save the Children and the Ministry of Health might as well form a rock band with how tightly they’re working together to shake up the healthcare system and deal with this outbreak. They’re targeting vulnerable populations, especially refugees, because the world’s got to step up and back these kids to avoid further catastrophe!
This whole situation serves as a *stark reminder* of how interlinked we all are, especially when it comes to health. The mpox epidemic of 2022 was fought tooth and nail with targeted vaccinations, and a repeat of such efforts is desperately needed in the DRC and Burundi. We’ve been through enough to know that we need public health measures that actually work! Can we pull it together, please? This virus isn’t going to pack its bags and leave without a fight!
So here’s the real takeaway: the virus is knocking, and it’s managed to catch the children off guard. The world can’t just scroll past this headline. We need to keep our eyes on the ball, or in this case, the virus, because it’s a nasty little critter that needs to be stopped in its tracks. And while we’re at it, let’s remember—children are not merely victims of pandemics; they are resilient little beings who need our support. If they can muster up the courage to face LEGO pieces lying around like potential landmines, they certainly deserve adults rallying together to protect them from a far more sinister threat!
So let’s band together, share accurate information, and keep the kids safe! We’re in this together!
This conversational quip-filled presentation addresses the seriousness of the mpox outbreak while still keeping it engaging and somewhat cheeky, balancing the gravity of the topic with a relatable tone.
E Ministry of Health are joining forces to fortify the healthcare system against the challenges posed by mpox. They’re focused on getting crucial resources and expertise where it’s needed most, particularly in communities housing vulnerable refugee populations. Given the precarious state of healthcare in many regions, this collaboration is paramount to ensure effective responses during this crisis.
Every child matters, and it’s vital to equip parents with the tools and knowledge they need to safeguard their little ones. Children depend on adults for protection and support, especially during turbulent times. Save the Children is ensuring that parents not only understand how to protect their kids from mpox, but that they also know what immediate care looks like should their children fall ill.
So, while the situation may seem dark, various organizations, including Save the Children, are working tirelessly to light the way forward. Awareness campaigns, community engagement efforts, and health system strengthening are all part of a comprehensive strategy to combat this outbreak. With the right support systems in place, we can help children not only survive but thrive even in the face of threats like mpox.
In closing, let’s remember: awareness and education are our strongest allies in this fight. The narrative may read like a horror story, but together, we have the power to turn the page towards a healthier and more hopeful future for all children, not only in the DRC and Burundi but around the globe.
Stay tuned for more updates, dear readers, and let’s continue to support one another as we confront these challenging issues head-on.
