Democratic Republic of Congo announces: 570 people have died due to Mpox virus
It has been reported that at least 570 people have lost their lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) due to the Mpox virus since the beginning of the year.
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Democratic Republic of Congo Minister of Health Roger Kamba shared the latest data regarding the Mpox virus outbreak in the country in a statement.
Kamba stated that 16,700 confirmed or suspected cases of Mpox have been detected since the beginning of this year, and more than 570 of these individuals have died.
Stating that the outbreak has spread to 17 countries in Africa, Kamba noted that it particularly affects the young population, especially children under the age of 15.
A nationwide Mpox outbreak was declared in the DRC in December 2022.
WHAT IS THE MPOX VIRUS
The Mpox virus is transmitted from rodents such as mice and squirrels or from infected individuals.
Touching body rashes caused by the virus, using items such as clothing, bed sheets, or towels contaminated with these rashes, and contact with body fluids are among the most important causes of transmission.
The first symptoms can appear 5 to 21 days after contracting the virus. The virus generally causes high fever, headache, back and muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, chills, shivering, and blisters on the skin similar to chickenpox.
There is no specific treatment method for the disease, and it is treated with antiviral drugs. The majority of cases experience the disease mildly and recover within a few weeks.
The WHO changed the name "monkeypox" to "mpox" in 2022 due to concerns about racism and discrimination.