About Jules Villa
Jules Villa is a postdoctoral researcher in the Anthropology and Ecology of Emerging Diseases unit at the Institut Pasteur in Paris and a recipient of ANRS-MIE funding. After completing a PhD at Sciences Po Paris under the supervision of Guillaume Lachenal, he is currently writing a book on the history of Monkeypox (Mpox) in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Discussant
Simplice Ayangma Bonoho is a health historian and assistant professor at the University of Montreal and the Centre for International Studies and Research. His thesis, defended at the University of Geneva, was awarded the Lombard Odier prize by the Swiss Forum for International Politics (FSPI). He is the author of L’OMS en Afrique centrale. Histoire d’un colonialisme sanitaire international (1956-2000), Karthala, 2022.
This presentation explores the historical and contemporary dynamics of attention to Mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), highlighting the legacy of the WHO surveillance programme conducted between 1981 and 1986. The analysis is based on field research carried out in Mongala province, the historical epicentre of the disease.
- The History of Mpox and WHO’s Intervention in the DRC
Identified in 1958 as monkeypox, the virus was first detected in humans in the DRC in 1970, in the context of post-smallpox eradication surveillance. In the 1980s, the WHO launched a research programme in Zaire, motivated both by scientific concerns and the reputational risk of having the eradication of smallpox questioned. Although this programme helped structure healthcare systems in rural areas, it was not part of a humanitarian approach but rather a data collection initiative for global health monitoring.
Mongala, particularly the Bumba territory, played a central role in this surveillance. The WHO’s presence was marked by intensive sampling campaigns and case monitoring, mobilising mobile teams and local health structures.
- Local Memory and the Legacy of the Programme
Today, former programme staff express mixed feelings of pride and frustration. Some, like Bokumbe Boyofa, who was involved in Mpox surveillance, regret the lack of recognition for their work and criticise the neglect of the infrastructures established during that time. The programme’s legacy is also reflected in nostalgia for a period when material and human resources were available to respond effectively.
Former patients, such as Lingoy, a key figure in the programme, recall a time of regular medical visits and specialised Mpox care. However, after the programme ended in 1986, attention to the disease faded, leaving behind a sense of abandonment in the face of persistent health challenges.
- The Contradictions of Public Health Discourses
Local perceptions of Mpox have been shaped by shifting public health messages over time. The disease is often linked to the consumption of monkey meat, despite this practice having significantly declined. This contradiction fuels scepticism among local populations regarding scientific explanations.
When Mpox was declared a public health emergency in 2024, the announcement was met with bitterness: why did it take the disease spreading to urban centres for it to regain priority status? This disruption in attention highlights global health inequalities and the extent to which health crises depend on international agendas.
Conclusion
The history of Mpox in the DRC reveals a cycle of intense focus followed by prolonged neglect. Far from being a simple matter of scientific continuity, Mpox management has been shaped by political and strategic decisions that reflect global health hierarchies. A locally grounded analysis offers deeper insights into these dynamics and challenges current public health priorities.