The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized the urgent need to address the spread of mpox in Africa on Tuesday, June 25. Concurrently, scientists have raised alarms about a “dangerous strain” identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Critical situation in Africa
Rosamund Lewis, the WHO’s technical lead for mpox, highlighted the situation in a briefing note to journalists. “There is a critical need to address the recent surge in mpox cases in Africa,” she stated, as reported by Reuters.
Understanding mpox
Mpox, a viral illness, is transmitted through close contact with infected humans or animals, as well as through contaminated materials such as sheets. The disease manifests with painful and scarring lesions, primarily affecting the face, anus, and genitals. Common symptoms include a skin rash, fever, headache, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes.
New strain raises concerns
Health experts are urging immediate action to contain the spread of a new and particularly dangerous strain of mpox. This modified strain of clade I mpox has been endemic in the Congo for decades but has shown increased severity.
High mortality rates
The new strain has significant mortality rates, reported to be approximately 10% for children and 5% for adults. John Claude Udahemuka from the University of Rwanda described it as “undoubtedly the most dangerous so far of all the known strains of mpox considering how it is transmitted, how it is spread, and also the symptoms.”
Origins and spread
Leandre Murhula Masirika of the South Kivu health department noted that the new strain was first identified in the small mining town of Kamituga in South Kivu province in eastern DRC in September. Recently, it has spread to nearby cities and may have already reached neighboring countries such as Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda.
Current statistics
Cris Kacita, the doctor overseeing the country’s mpox control program, informed Reuters that approximately 8,600 mpox cases and 410 deaths have been reported in Congo so far this year.
Mpox was first discovered in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with its spread mostly limited to specific West and Central African nations. However, in May 2022, infections surged globally, predominantly among men who have sex with men, prompting the WHO to declare it a global health emergency.