Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39708276›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology2025

Clinical characteristics of suspected cases of human mpox (monkeypox) in Katako-Kombe, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2023: challenges and key responses.

Etongola Papy Steve Mbelambela, Akemo Jean Paul Wandja, Antonio Fredelindo Villanueva, Ndjongandeke Daniel Olamba, Lohohola Omba, Sifa Marie Joelle Muchanga

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Article in European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Etongola Papy Steve MbelambelaDepartment of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kochi University Kochi Medical School, Nankoku City, Japan. mbelasteve@gmail.com.
Akemo Jean Paul WandjaKatako-Kombe Health Zone, Katako-Kombe, Sankuru, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Antonio Fredelindo VillanuevaHealthcare Unit Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Ndjongandeke Daniel OlambaDepartment of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Notre Dame University of Tshumbe, Sankuru, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Lohohola OmbaHigh Technical Institute of Sankuru, Institut Superieur Technique de Sankuru (ISTSAN), Sankuru, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Sifa Marie Joelle MuchangaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThis study aimed to describe the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of suspected cases of human mpox in one of the most affected health zones, Katako-Kombe, Sankuru Province, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Also, to identify key challenges to prevent and improve the health of the affected community.

methodsBetween January 26, 2023 and November 30, 2023, the DRC reported its highest incidence of mpox cases,with a total of 12,569 suspected cases in 156 health zones from 22 of the 26 country's provinces. The Katako-Kombe Health Zone registered 369 suspected cases and 17 deaths, making it one of the hotspots of the outbreak.

resultsTen villages and centres were affected, with an attack rate (AT) of 2.15‰ and a case fatality rate (CFR) of 4.6%. Epi-curves showed an increase in clinical cases from January to May 2023, followed by a decrease until August 2023 and a resurgence of cases in September 2023, with a reproduction rate of 1.29. Furthermore, the occurrence of complications appeared to increase the CFR with 7 (14%), 11 (18.03%), and 9 (23.68%) for encephalitis, anemia, and pulmonary complications, respectively.

conclusionsAT, CFR, and transmission rate appeared to be lower in the current epidemic than in previous outbreaks and in Clade I. Critically, delayed medical care increases the incidence of complications and CFR. Therefore, mpox requires early diagnosis and prompt public health response. Including the possibility of mpox in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with a vesicular or pustular rash is suggested.

Indexed as

Disease OutbreaksMpox, MonkeypoxAdolescentAdultAgedChildChild, PreschoolDemocratic Republic of the CongoFemaleHumansIncidenceInfantMaleMiddle AgedMonkeypox virusYoung AdultChallenges and key responsesKatako-KombeMpox-outbreak

Identifiers

PMID39708276

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.