Scientists are urging the world to “get prepared'” for a potential new pandemic as a deadly new strain of mpox virus has shown signs of spreading more easily between humans.
Researchers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) fired the warning shot after studying the outbreak.
The latest mutation of the virus, known as Clade Ib, has reportedly become more efficient at human-to-human transmission, they found.
This means the disease, formerly known as monkeypox, could spread more easily across borders, bringing potentially more severe symptoms and a higher mortality rate along with it, researchers warn.
Clade 1b first emerged in September in the DRC mining town of Kamituga
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Mpox is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be spread between animals and people. It is endemic, or found regularly, in parts of Central and West Africa.
It can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes and fever. Most people fully recover, but some get very sick. The infectious disease can be prevented through vaccination.
In 2022, mpox spread across the world, with outbreaks reported in non-endemic countries, such as the UK and America, for the first time.
Clade II is the strain that caused the global outbreak that began in 2022. Now a sublineage of its descendant – Clade 1 – is spreading like wildfire in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Clade 1b first emerged in September among sex workers in the DRC mining town of Kamituga, around 170 miles (273km) from the border with Rwanda.
There have now been around 1,000 confirmed cases in the country’s South Kivu province.
Research is necessary to determine how the virus is spreading in South Kivu, but on Monday, first cases were also confirmed in the city of Goma, which is also close to the Rwanda border.
Researchers think it is in part spreading due to sexual intercourse. This pattern is consistent with the previous outbreak.
Mpox can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes and fever.
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The milder Clade 2 strain was mainly spread via men who had sex with other men, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported at the time.
Clade Ib is feared to be much more deadly. Early estimates suggest the latest strain has a mortality rate of five percent for adults and 10 percent for children.
“It is undoubtedly the most dangerous so far of all the known strains of mpox,” said Jean Claude Udahemuka, from the University of Rwanda.
“Everyone should get prepared and support the local response,” he added.
In a separate briefing, WHO officials warned that the spread of mpox in Africa needs to be addressed urgently, particularly in light of the alarming rate of transmission being recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo.
“There is a critical need to address the recent surge in mpox cases in Africa,” Rosamund Lewis, WHO’s technical lead on mpox said.
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
