A laboratory-confirmed case of mpox has been identified in Bunia, a northeastern Congolese city currently battling its worst Ebola outbreak on record, according to local hospital director Davin Ambitapio Musungufu and two health officials.
Ebola Epidemic Complicates Disease Monitoring in Ituri Province
The ongoing Ebola epidemic in Ituri province was declared on May 15. Government data published on Thursday, September 24, 2026, shows that the outbreak has infected 7,890 people and killed 3,799.
Dr. Adelard Lofungola, a health official who served as deputy incident manager for Congo’s mpox response, stated that the Ebola outbreak’s impact on Congo’s health system is complicating efforts by medical teams to monitor other concurrent infections. Health officials have reported an increase in mpox cases across several parts of the country over the past month.
Patient Admissions and Isolation Protocols in Bunia
The confirmed mpox case involves a 21-year-old woman admitted to the hospital on Thursday, presenting with lesions across her body that are consistent with the viral infection, according to hospital director Davin Ambitapio Musungufu. She tested positive the following day.
A second individual, a 32-year-old woman, has been identified as a suspected mpox case and is currently awaiting laboratory test results. Musungufu confirmed that both the confirmed patient and the suspected case have been placed in isolation and are receiving care from a dedicated medical team. Local health authorities have initiated investigations to trace contacts and determine the source of the infection. Additionally, Dr. Adelard Lofungola noted that five suspected mpox cases in Bunia are under investigation.
Prior Mpox Emergency and Ongoing Viral Resurgence
Congo previously declared an end to mpox as a national public health emergency in April, following a three-year outbreak that resulted in more than 34,000 confirmed cases nationwide. Even as authorities lifted that emergency status, public health officials cautioned that the virus had not been eradicated and could resurge.
Did you know? Mpox is primarily transmitted through close physical contact, and symptoms commonly include fever accompanied by skin lesions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the primary symptoms of mpox?
Mpox is a viral disease that causes fever and skin lesions across the body, spreading primarily through close physical contact.
Where was the recent mpox case confirmed?
The laboratory-confirmed case was identified in Bunia, a city located in Congo’s northeastern Ituri province.
How does the Ebola outbreak affect mpox monitoring?
According to Dr. Adelard Lofungola, the impact of the ongoing Ebola epidemic—which has infected 7,890 people—is complicating efforts by the country’s health system to monitor other infections.
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