More than 100 monkeypox patients have escaped from DR Congo treatment centers

From the treatment centers located in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), 128 patients suffering from smallpox in monkeys escaped because of the army's fighting with the group "Movement of March 23" (M23). This was reported by Actualité on February 4, citing a report by the country's Ministry of Health.

"128 patients escaped from isolation sites," the document said.

According to the ministry, 2,707 cases of suspected disease were recorded in DR Congo during the week. Of them confirmed 516, also noted 38 deaths.

It is specified that since the beginning of the epidemic of smallpox of monkeys in the republic about 70 thousand cases were detected, among which more than 13 thousand cases were confirmed. 1407 deaths were recorded.

The agency noted a number of problems in the province of North Kivu due to the offensive of rebels from the group M23. Among the difficulties are disruptions in the supply of medicines, shortages of water, electricity, logistical resources and ambulances.

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The day before, Actualité reported that the death toll from the M23 rebels' attack on the DRC town of Goma reached more than 900. It was specified that between January 26 and January 30, about 2,880 wounded with various injuries were taken to medical facilities.

On January 27, the leader of the "March 23 Movement" Cornel Nangaa announced that he had taken control of the city of Goma. Rebels cut the routes for food and basic necessities to the city from the south. Reuters reported on January 28 that Congolese rebels from M23 took control of the airport of the city of Goma. It was noted that it was through it that the UN, humanitarian groups and peacekeepers were delivering supplies.

Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya, in turn, emphasized that Russia strongly condemns the actions of the Congolese rebel group M23 in the DRC and calls for a cessation of hostilities.

The situation in DR Congo escalated after the government severed diplomatic relations with Rwanda and accused the country of supporting the rebels who launched a new offensive on the town of Goma. The DRC Foreign Ministry on January 26 announced the immediate withdrawal of its diplomats in the Rwandan capital of Kigali and ordered the country's embassy in Kinshasa to cease operations within 48 hours.