RBC Confirms two Cases of Monkeypox in Rwanda

The Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) has confirmed the presence of monkeypox, also known as mpox, in Rwanda following the detection of two cases.

These cases were identified in individuals who had recently traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the outbreak has been particularly severe.

Dr. Edson Rwagasore, head of the Epidemic Disease Control Department at RBC, disclosed to RBA that the infected individuals are a 33-year-old woman and a 34-year-old man.

“All the patients we identified had a history of frequent travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Monkeypox has been prevalent in various countries for some time,” he said.

Monkeypox is highly contagious and spreads through direct contact with an infected person or their bodily fluids. Transmission can also occur through sexual intercourse, kissing, or handshakes with an infected individual.

The disease manifests with itchy rashes on the body, commonly affecting the genital areas, face, hands, and feet. Other symptoms include fever, headache, joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes.

Dr. Rwagasore urged the public to adopt stringent preventive measures, including “avoiding sexual contact with anyone exhibiting symptoms and maintaining rigorous hand hygiene with soap and water.”

He also mentioned that a team of medical professionals has been dispatched to various regions to conduct investigations and inquiries related to the disease.

“We detected a symptomatic patient upon arrival at the border, and we immediately followed up and provided treatment,” he added.

While monkeypox is rarely fatal, it poses a significant health risk to those infected, making vigilance essential.

Since 2022, over 100,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported globally.

Africa has reported the highest number of cases, with the Democratic Republic of Congo particularly hard-hit. Since the beginning of this year, the DRC has seen 11,000 reported cases of monkeypox, with 445 fatalities.