A mining town in eastern DR Congo is at the heart of a growing mpox outbreak, with its nightlife blamed for the virus's spread.
Known for its goldmines, Kamituga has drawn thousands of prospectors since Belgian companies abandoned the area in the 1990s. While officially home to 300,000 people, locals estimate the population is double that due to the influx of miners.
Bars and nightclubs, where miners seek alcohol and companionship after long days, are hotspots for mpox transmission. The virus spreads through close physical contact and finds fertile ground in these establishments.
Bitama Sebuhuni, a prospector hospitalized after contracting mpox during unprotected sex, described the town’s nightlife as a source of sin, driven by a culture of prostitutes, alcohol, and casual encounters.
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According to the ALIMA international medical NGO, about 20% of cases are sexually transmitted, and condoms offer little protection against mpox.
The virus reemerged in Kamituga in September 2023, with nightclub workers showing early symptoms. The spread was fueled by prostitutes, many of whom keep their infections secret to avoid losing customers.
Nicole Mubukwa, a local sex worker, lamented that the disease has drastically reduced clientele. Many infected women, like Alice, a prostitute from Bukavu, fear revealing their condition due to financial strain.
Beyond Kamituga, the virus has spread throughout South Kivu province, becoming the epicenter of the African mpox outbreak.
Authorities now face the challenge of curbing transmission in a town where poverty, nightlife, and unregulated mining collide, creating the perfect environment for the disease to thrive.
