Republic of the Congo reports 19 mpox cases

BRAZZAVILLE, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) — Nineteen monkeypox (mpox) cases have been confirmed in the Republic of the Congo based on epidemiological surveillance data from Jan. 9 to April 9, the Ministry of Health and Population said in a statement on Friday.
The cases were found in the departments of Lekoumou, Cuvette, Plateaux and Pointe-Noire.
The Congolese government assured the population in the statement that while mpox is present, the epidemic is under control in the country.
It urged everyone to adhere to preventive measures, including regularly and properly washing hands with clean water and soap, sanitizing the environment, avoiding any contact with wild animals — whether alive or dead, and avoiding contact with any suspected or confirmed cases.
The statement also noted that mpox symptoms include a fever, headaches, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, muscle pain, and a generalized rash on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
Both the World Health Organization and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention have recently declared the ongoing mpox outbreak a public health emergency. ■