DRC reports more than 200 monkeypox cases in January

By NewsDesk @bactiman63

From the beginning of the year through January 26, 2020, 222 monkeypox cases were reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The majority of cases have been reported from the provinces of Sankuru (31%), Bas-Uele (18%), Equateur (15%) and Mai-Ndombe (9%).

Four deaths have been recorded.

In 2019, more than 5,000 monkeypox cases and 100+ deaths were reported.

Monkeypox is a rare disease that occurs throughout remote parts of Central and West Africa, often near tropical rainforests. It is spread through contact with the monkeypox virus from an animal or human (alive or dead) or with materials contaminated with the virus.

Symptoms begin with fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes and exhaustion, and is followed by a rash. Patients are usually ill for 2-4 weeks. Monkeypox is fatal in as many as 10% of people who get it.