Rapid spread of Mpox strain in Africa causes alarm

KINSHASA: A mutated strain of Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox and akin to smallpox, is rapidly spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The World Health Organisation (WHO) issued a grave alert, calling for an “immediate need” for global attention and intervention.

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The Mpox strain causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions, posing significant health risks. The new strain, “clade Ib”, emerged along the eastern border of the DRC and is proving exceptionally lethal. Fatality rates are as high as 10 per cent among children and 5 per cent among adults.

Unlike previous outbreaks primarily transmitted through contact with infected animals or “bushmeat” consumption, clade Ib spreads rapidly among humans. It is transmitted through sexual contact and non-sexual interactions in schools and households.

A local research reported over 1,000 confirmed cases of clade Ib in the southern province of the DRC alone, with more than 20 new cases weekly in Kamituga.

Symptoms associated with clade Ib include extensive whole-body rashes and a high incidence of miscarriages. Experts said that quick action is needed to prevent further escalation, calling for better surveillance, rapid deployment of vaccines where possible, and effective public health measures to curtail transmission.

According to reports, efforts are underway to assess the efficiency of existing vaccines against the new strain, although vaccine accessibility remains a challenge in affected regions.

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With mortality rates disproportionately affecting children and reports of cross-border transmission, the WHO and global health authorities are urging preemptive measures to contain the outbreak before it spreads and becomes an epidemic.