Conflict in DR Congo Forces Over 500 Mpox Patients to Flee Clinics Amid Rising Health Crisis

As more than 500 patients diagnosed with mpox abandon clinics in eastern DR Congo due to escalating violence and looting, health officials express grave worries about the spread of the disease. The situation has deteriorated amidst the conflict involving M23 rebels, with facilities being overwhelmed and medical supplies stolen, posing significant challenges for ongoing health interventions.

More than 500 patients suffering from mpox have fled their clinics in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over the past month due to escalating conflict and chaos resulting from the actions of the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. Health officials from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have issued warnings about the risk of a new outbreak as these missing patients could spread the highly contagious disease, which claimed the lives of approximately 900 people in DRC last year.

Health facilities in Goma and Bukavu have been particularly affected, with reports of looting that have left clinics struggling to maintain services. Dr. Samuel Muhindo, who oversees a health center in Goma, shared the distressing news that his facility witnessed the escape of 128 mpox patients following violent clashes at the end of January. An urgent lack of documentation due to destruction has further complicated efforts to locate the missing individuals.

The chaos has not only endangered patients but has also resulted in the theft of critical medical supplies. At the Bisengimana hospital in Goma, looters seized medicines and personal protective gear, setting fires outside the center, which left medical records scattered across the floor. Additionally, the M23 has enforced the closure of refugee camps in Goma, where displaced individuals have sought safety amid ongoing conflict. As tens of thousands were asked to vacate these shelters, fears grew regarding the potential outbreak in areas where people are returning.

Dr. Ngashi Ngongo from Africa CDC has echoed these concerns, voicing the urgent need for a humanitarian ceasefire to allow for uninterrupted mpox intervention efforts. The organization has reported a dramatic increase in the number of missing patients, raising the total by 100 in just the last week due to intensified fighting as the M23 expands its territory.

Moreover, a new potentially more transmissible variant of mpox has been identified in the region, heightening the urgency of the situation. Although the UN children’s agency (Unicef)-supported Mugunga facility has recently reopened, it is currently overwhelmed, with multiple patients often needing to share beds due to a surge in incoming cases.

Individuals like Sadiki Bichichi Aristide, a 23-year-old seeking treatment for mpox with his two children, illustrate the human cost of this crisis. Having previously fled areas of conflict, he recounted falling ill while in a displacement camp and being advised by neighbors to seek help at Mugunga, where he left his wife behind.

Dr. Oummani Rouafi, a health specialist with Unicef, stated that the only reason the Mugunga hospital was able to reopen was due to staff successfully hiding some medical supplies from marauding looters. Unfortunately, many other health centers have not been as fortunate, having been completely stripped of resources, leaving them unable to provide adequate care.

As the conflict continues to escalate, the health crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo remains dire, with urgent calls for international assistance to restore stability and safeguard public health.