A more lethal strain of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, has been detected in four African nations, prompting global health officials to issue warnings.
According to CNN, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reported over 14,000 mpox cases and 511 deaths. The disease has also spread to Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda—countries that had not previously reported cases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The WHO plans to convene an emergency committee to determine if the outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. Meanwhile, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a health advisory urging doctors to be vigilant for mpox in individuals who have recently traveled from the DRC or neighboring countries.
Mpox is a viral disease that spreads easily through close contact, such as touching, kissing, or sexual activity, and via contaminated materials like clothing, sheets, and needles. Symptoms include fever, a painful rash, headache, muscle and back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.
Historically confined to Central and West Africa, mpox began spreading to Europe and North America in 2022. The disease is categorized into two genetic clades, I and II. Clade Ib, which has been present in the DRC for years, is responsible for the current outbreak. Despite its higher mortality, there is no evidence suggesting it is more transmissible, according to Dr. Rosamund Lewis, the WHO technical lead for the global mpox response.
The global outbreak in 2022 was attributed to Clade II. Since January 2023, the DRC has reported over 22,000 suspected cases of Clade I mpox and more than 1,200 deaths, matching last year’s figures, as stated by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The risk of further spread in the region is assessed as moderate for the general population but high in the DRC. The WHO has not recommended travel restrictions for the affected countries at this time.
There have been no reports of Clade I mpox outside central and eastern Africa, and the CDC considers the risk of its introduction to the US as “very low.” Nonetheless, the CDC continues to recommend mpox vaccination for those exposed to or at high risk of the virus.
The WHO has initiated the Emergency Use Listing process for approved mpox vaccines to expedite availability in lower-income countries. Nigeria and the DRC are among the nations that have approved these vaccines for emergency use.
The CDC advises individuals who have traveled to the DRC or neighboring countries in the past 21 days and developed an unexplained rash to seek medical attention immediately and avoid contact with others.
To combat the outbreak, the WHO has developed a regional response plan requiring $15 million and has allocated $1 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies.
The organization is calling for international support to address the outbreak effectively. Dr. Michael Ryan, executive director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Program, emphasized the need for international funding and a better understanding of the virus.
“It’s very important that we have a better understanding of this virus. It’s a virus that can be contained. It can be contained quite straightforwardly, if we do the right things at the right time,” he said.
