08:22Recovered mpox patients spoke about their experiences with the virus - while a local doctor said the the current response in the area was broadly positive despite ongoing issues - as seen in footage from the town of Ulvira in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s North Kivu province on Tuesday.
"I think the response has been good because we have had to treat 600 cases, 600 to 700 cases, all of which have progressed well," said physician Faradia Traste. "We had a few deaths, four that we have had to record, but in general, the trend has been good."
However, he admitted that there was 'no shortage of difficulties', including issues with obtaining stocks of medication.
"When you run out of medication, it must be a problem, but there are partners who help us to meet our needs, and that's why we're still here," he said.
Tshimusa Uvira said that he had first become unwell at work, and experienced a fever - but a number of other conditions were diagnosed initially.
"I went to the hospital, where I was diagnosed with typhoid fever, malaria and infections, and given a dose that made no difference," he said. "I saw this pimple appear on my hand and two others on my feet. We had already had a session with the health zone where we were informed that only monkeypox can cause pimples to grow on the hands."
He also called for the vaccine effort to be sped up.
"We learned that the European Union has given 100,000 doses to a population of 100 million. We do not know who will take it and who will not take it," he said.
"It comes in several forms," explained Mwajuma Issa Solange, who had been treated for the disease. "I first felt headaches, back and hip pain, and a lot of cold. I took medication at home, but without success. Then, I saw three spots on my hand."
She added that she went immediately to the hospital, where mpox was confirmed.
"I don't know how I caught this disease when my husband and my child were not affected while we slept together. In any case, they are doing well," she said.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported over 22,000 mpox cases and 600 deaths across the continent, with a significant portion occurring in the DRC, where most infections are among children under 15.
In August, the WHO announced the public health emergency due to the spread of the Clade Ib type of the disease. Earlier this month, the EU's first batch of 100,000 vaccines arrived in the country, although experts suggest 3 million doses are needed. Western countries including the US and EU have pledged 380,000 doses in total.
The new variant can kill up to 10 percent of those infected, according to reports, Sweden and Thailand have recorded cases of Clade 1. The less dangerous Clade II, which caused the global outbreak in 2022, has a fatality rate of less than one percent but can still cause serious public health concerns.
According to the WHO, mpox spreads through close physical interactions and contaminated items such as bedding, clothing, or needles. The virus causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions and can be transmitted both among humans and from animals to humans.
'European Union has given 100,000 doses to a population of 100 million' - Doctors treat mpox as patients recover in DRC
Recovered mpox patients spoke about their experiences with the virus - while a local doctor said the the current response in the area was broadly positive despite ongoing issues - as seen in footage from the town of Ulvira in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s North Kivu province on Tuesday.
"I think the response has been good because we have had to treat 600 cases, 600 to 700 cases, all of which have progressed well," said physician Faradia Traste. "We had a few deaths, four that we have had to record, but in general, the trend has been good."
However, he admitted that there was 'no shortage of difficulties', including issues with obtaining stocks of medication.
"When you run out of medication, it must be a problem, but there are partners who help us to meet our needs, and that's why we're still here," he said.
Tshimusa Uvira said that he had first become unwell at work, and experienced a fever - but a number of other conditions were diagnosed initially.
"I went to the hospital, where I was diagnosed with typhoid fever, malaria and infections, and given a dose that made no difference," he said. "I saw this pimple appear on my hand and two others on my feet. We had already had a session with the health zone where we were informed that only monkeypox can cause pimples to grow on the hands."
He also called for the vaccine effort to be sped up.
"We learned that the European Union has given 100,000 doses to a population of 100 million. We do not know who will take it and who will not take it," he said.
"It comes in several forms," explained Mwajuma Issa Solange, who had been treated for the disease. "I first felt headaches, back and hip pain, and a lot of cold. I took medication at home, but without success. Then, I saw three spots on my hand."
She added that she went immediately to the hospital, where mpox was confirmed.
"I don't know how I caught this disease when my husband and my child were not affected while we slept together. In any case, they are doing well," she said.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported over 22,000 mpox cases and 600 deaths across the continent, with a significant portion occurring in the DRC, where most infections are among children under 15.
In August, the WHO announced the public health emergency due to the spread of the Clade Ib type of the disease. Earlier this month, the EU's first batch of 100,000 vaccines arrived in the country, although experts suggest 3 million doses are needed. Western countries including the US and EU have pledged 380,000 doses in total.
The new variant can kill up to 10 percent of those infected, according to reports, Sweden and Thailand have recorded cases of Clade 1. The less dangerous Clade II, which caused the global outbreak in 2022, has a fatality rate of less than one percent but can still cause serious public health concerns.
According to the WHO, mpox spreads through close physical interactions and contaminated items such as bedding, clothing, or needles. The virus causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions and can be transmitted both among humans and from animals to humans.
Recovered mpox patients spoke about their experiences with the virus - while a local doctor said the the current response in the area was broadly positive despite ongoing issues - as seen in footage from the town of Ulvira in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s North Kivu province on Tuesday.
"I think the response has been good because we have had to treat 600 cases, 600 to 700 cases, all of which have progressed well," said physician Faradia Traste. "We had a few deaths, four that we have had to record, but in general, the trend has been good."
However, he admitted that there was 'no shortage of difficulties', including issues with obtaining stocks of medication.
"When you run out of medication, it must be a problem, but there are partners who help us to meet our needs, and that's why we're still here," he said.
Tshimusa Uvira said that he had first become unwell at work, and experienced a fever - but a number of other conditions were diagnosed initially.
"I went to the hospital, where I was diagnosed with typhoid fever, malaria and infections, and given a dose that made no difference," he said. "I saw this pimple appear on my hand and two others on my feet. We had already had a session with the health zone where we were informed that only monkeypox can cause pimples to grow on the hands."
He also called for the vaccine effort to be sped up.
"We learned that the European Union has given 100,000 doses to a population of 100 million. We do not know who will take it and who will not take it," he said.
"It comes in several forms," explained Mwajuma Issa Solange, who had been treated for the disease. "I first felt headaches, back and hip pain, and a lot of cold. I took medication at home, but without success. Then, I saw three spots on my hand."
She added that she went immediately to the hospital, where mpox was confirmed.
"I don't know how I caught this disease when my husband and my child were not affected while we slept together. In any case, they are doing well," she said.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported over 22,000 mpox cases and 600 deaths across the continent, with a significant portion occurring in the DRC, where most infections are among children under 15.
In August, the WHO announced the public health emergency due to the spread of the Clade Ib type of the disease. Earlier this month, the EU's first batch of 100,000 vaccines arrived in the country, although experts suggest 3 million doses are needed. Western countries including the US and EU have pledged 380,000 doses in total.
The new variant can kill up to 10 percent of those infected, according to reports, Sweden and Thailand have recorded cases of Clade 1. The less dangerous Clade II, which caused the global outbreak in 2022, has a fatality rate of less than one percent but can still cause serious public health concerns.
According to the WHO, mpox spreads through close physical interactions and contaminated items such as bedding, clothing, or needles. The virus causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions and can be transmitted both among humans and from animals to humans.