From 3 to 5 December 2025, the Mpox: State of the Art Symposium was held in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo). During the event, FCRM, Scientific Coordinator of the Mpox-Probe project, delivered a presentation entitled “Assessment of Knowledge, Perception and Preventive Practices toward Mpox Disease in the Congolese Population.”

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Poster Summary

A community-based survey conducted in Brazzaville during the 2025 Mpox outbreak revealed critically low levels of knowledge, risk perception, and preventive practices among the population. Among 567 participants, nearly 90% showed poor knowledge of Mpox, fewer than 40% had heard of the disease, and only a small minority correctly identified its viral cause. Most respondents reported low to moderate risk perception and inadequate preventive behaviors, while trust in a potential Mpox vaccine was limited.

Conclusion

Despite the active outbreak, knowledge, perception, and preventive behaviors related to Mpox remain critically low in Brazzaville. These findings highlight an urgent need for stronger public awareness campaigns, improved risk communication, and community engagement to strengthen Mpox preparedness and response in the Republic of Congo.

The photo shows Chastel Mapanguy presenting the poster at the conference:

Below the poster presented at the conference: