Urgent Concerns as 500 Mpox Patients Escape Clinics Amid Escalating DR Congo Conflict**

Recent fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo has forced hundreds of mpox patients to flee from clinics, raising fears of disease spread as officials call for humanitarian aid and ceasefire.**

In a troubling development, more than 500 patients suffering from mpox have fled health facilities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo over the past month, driven away by escalating violence and looting linked to the M23 rebel group's recent territorial gains. Health officials from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have expressed grave concerns that these missing individuals could contribute to the spread of the highly contagious disease, which was responsible for nearly 900 deaths in the region last year alone.

The unrest has particularly affected several clinics in Goma and Bukavu, as reports detail how health centres were looted and destroyed. "We were looted. We lost equipment. It was a disaster," said Dr. Samuel Muhindo, who oversees a clinic in Goma. The violence, which intensified towards the end of January, forced 128 patients from the Mugunga health centre to flee, with subsequent reports indicating that clinics were left without any means to track them due to lost medical records.

Symptoms of mpox, which was formerly known as monkeypox, include lesions, headaches, and fever. Since the beginning of this year, nearly 2,890 mpox cases and 180 deaths have already been reported in the country, underscoring DR Congo's status as a hotspot for health emergencies amid ongoing clashes.

The situation has worsened as M23 has reportedly ordered the closure of refugee camps, sending thousands back to areas still grappling with conflict. "Now we are afraid of an outbreak of the epidemic in the areas where the displaced people return," Dr. Muhindo warned. Africa CDC officials echoed these concerns and called for an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of humanitarian corridors to facilitate aid.

The number of missing mpox patients continues to rise, exacerbated by ongoing violence, as health workers note a new variant of the disease with potentially higher transmissibility. Although the Mugunga facility, temporarily reopened by UNICEF and UK Aid Direct, is attempting to resume services, it faces overwhelming demand, with multiple patients frequently sharing beds.

Among those seeking treatment is 23-year-old Sadiki Bichichi Aristide, who fled to Goma to escape the advancing M23 rebels. After falling ill in a refugee camp, where he observed numerous others displaying mpox symptoms, he brought his two children to the clinic, leaving his wife behind in the process.

Dr. Oummani Rouafi, a health specialist with UNICEF in Goma, highlighted the resilience of the Mugunga hospital, which managed to reopen only because some medical supplies were successfully hidden from looters. However, many facilities remain devastated and unable to operate, significantly hampering the ongoing fight against mpox.