In JUA KIVU, we conduct mpox emergency outbreak research with the aim to better understand the dynamics of the ongoing mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries in the African Great Lakes region, providing evidence-based support for its containment. We build on ongoing activities and cross-border collaborations between five local African and three European partners, as well as local frontline health authorities and healthcare professionals.
The WHO declared mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) a public health emergency of international concern for the second time in August 14, 2024. The reason for this is the increase of cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the newly reported clade Ib spreading to neighboring countries (Mpox outbreak). Mpox is a viral disease that primarily spreads through close (sexual) contact with an infected person and can cause severe illness. Symptoms include a painful rash, swollen lymph nodes, and fever.
