New strain of Mpox spreading rapidly in central Africa | BBC News

A new strain of Mpox is rapidly spreading in central Africa, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi, amid limited resources and awareness.

Key Takeaways

Mpox is spreading rapidly in central Africa, with significant outbreaks in Congo and Burundi.
Limited healthcare infrastructure and resources in Burundi hinder effective response.
Public awareness about Mpox is low, increasing the risk of further spread.
Diagnostic delays due to centralized testing slow containment efforts.
There is an urgent need for vaccines and improved healthcare support to control the outbreak.

What the video covers

The World Health Organization has declared Ebola an international health emergency due to a new rapidly spreading strain in Africa.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is the epicenter with over 16,500 cases and 570 deaths this year.
Burundi, one of Africa's poorest nations, is experiencing a surge with 171 confirmed cases recently.
Public awareness about the disease in Burundi is very limited, complicating containment efforts.
Medical facilities in Burundi face challenges including lack of vaccines, insufficient testing kits, and only one testing laboratory.
Health workers in Burundi are struggling to treat patients and monitor the spread of the virus.
Diagnosis delays occur because samples must be sent to a single lab, slowing detection and response.
Isolation measures are in place at medical centers to separate infected patients from others seeking care.
Access to basic resources like clean water is limited, further complicating disease control.
The urgent need for an adequate vaccine is highlighted due to difficulties in usual containment methods.

Chapters

What countries are most affected by the new Mpox strain?

The Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi are the most affected countries, with Congo recording over 16,500 cases and Burundi seeing a recent surge with 171 confirmed cases.

What challenges are faced by health authorities in Burundi?

Burundi faces limited medical facilities, only one testing laboratory, insufficient testing kits, no vaccines, low public awareness, and limited access to basic resources like clean water.

Why is diagnosing new Mpox cases delayed in Burundi?

Diagnosis is delayed because all testing is done in a single laboratory, requiring samples to be transported from health centers, which slows down detection and confirmation of new cases.

Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown

Speaker A

The World Health Organization has already declared Ebola an international health emergency. Now, a new strain of the virus is rapidly spreading across parts of Africa, leading to a surge in infections. The epicenter of the current outbreak is the Democratic Republic of Congo, where more than 16 and a half thousand cases have been recorded this year, with 570 deaths.

Speaker A

Congo where more than 16 and a half thousand cases have been recorded this year with 570 deaths in neighboring Burundi one of the continent's poorest Nations there's been a riseing cases which is worrying medical officials who've confirmed 171 cases this week our

Speaker A

In neighboring Burundi, one of the continent's poorest nations, there has been a rising number of cases, which is worrying medical officials who have confirmed 171 cases this week. Our correspondent Mercy Jumer has traveled to Burundi in the west of the country, where public awareness of the disease is limited, and the lack of medical facilities and vaccines means the health authorities are struggling.

Speaker A

centers in burundi's biggest city stuff here are battling to both treat the people coming into this facility and to monit how far and fast the empo virus is spreading I had swollen lymph nodes it was so painful I couldn't sleep then the

Speaker A

At one of the largest medical centers in Burundi's biggest city, staff here are battling to both treat the people coming into this facility and to monitor how far and fast the Ebola virus is spreading. I had swollen lymph nodes. It was so painful I couldn't sleep. Then the pain subsided up here, and it moved to my legs, but I am better now.

Speaker A

just outside uh the men's unit and normally you wouldn't see this orange or red tips here but this is a form of isolating those who are being treated and the rest of the community that may walk in to seek services in this

Speaker A

They are currently treating 55 cases here. There are four suspected cases that just walked in, and their status will be confirmed after a lab result. I'm just outside the men's unit, and normally you wouldn't see these orange or red tips here, but this is a form of isolating those who are being treated and the rest of the community that may walk in to seek services in this facility.

Speaker A

limited this is a real challenge the fact that diagnosis is only done in one place this delays detecting new cases health centers are calling the laboratory saying they have suspected cases but it takes time for teams from the lab to deploy to where

Speaker A

Burundi is seeing a surge in Ebola cases. Medical officials here are concerned about limited resources. There's only one testing laboratory in the whole country, insufficient testing kits, and no vaccines. Access to basic resources like water is also limited.

Speaker A

officials here in Burundi is that people understand the dangers of this disease but that hasn't got through yet and it will take time public awareness about ooks is quite limited here most of those we spoke to do not even know what it is

Speaker A

This is a real challenge. The fact that diagnosis is only done in one place delays detecting new cases. Health centers are calling the laboratory, saying they have suspected cases, but it takes time for teams from the lab to deploy to where the suspected cases are to take samples, and it takes even more time to release the test results.

Speaker A

usual containment is difficult making the need for an adequate vaccine even more urgent Mur

Topics:MpoxEbolaDemocratic Republic of CongoBurundiAfricavirus outbreakpublic healthWHO emergencydisease containmentvaccine shortage

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