The World Health Organization emphasized the urgent need to address the spread of mpox in Africa, highlighting a particularly dangerous strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"Addressing the recent surge in mpox cases in Africa is crucial," stated Rosamund Lewis, WHO's technical lead for mpox, during a briefing to journalists.
In a separate briefing, John Claude Udahemuka, from the University of Rwanda, reported on a mutated version of the clade I mpox virus endemic in Congo's South Kivu province—a region challenging to access. This strain, he noted, is extremely dangerous, with fatality rates approximately 5% in adults and 10% in children.
As of this year, Congo has reported roughly 8,600 cases of mpox and 410 deaths, according to Cris Kacita, the physician overseeing the country's mpox control program.
Mpox, a viral infection transmitted through close contact, typically presents with flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. While most cases are mild, the disease can be fatal.
A less severe strain of the virus, clade IIb, spread globally in 2022, primarily through sexual contact among men who have sex with men, leading WHO to declare a public health emergency. Although this emergency has ended, Lewis reaffirmed the disease continues to pose a health threat. Recently, two deaths in South Africa were linked to this strain following a few diagnosed cases.
Efforts to address the outbreak globally includes the use of vaccines and treatments, which, however, remain unavailable in Congo.
Researchers, including Udahemuka, noted that in South Kivu, the new strain was also spreading through sexual contact among both men and women, particularly among sex workers.
Further studies are needed on other modes of close contact transmission, with evidence suggesting transmission in schools and from caregivers to children. Additionally, the disease appears to cause miscarriages and long-term effects such as persistent rashes and other symptoms.
Leandre Murhula Masirika, research coordinator in South Kivu's health department, reported that approximately 20 cases per week were being documented in Kamituga, a mining town. "At this rate, we risk becoming a source of cases for other countries," Kacita warned. Congo's outbreak, now affecting 24 of 26 provinces, is described as the most severe mpox epidemic to date.