New deadly Monkeypox strain sparks global concerns amid surge in DR Congo

Two years after the global mpox outbreak, a new and more lethal strain of the virus, identified as Clade Ib subclade, is causing concern as it spreads in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighboring countries.

This strain is deadlier and more transmissible than previous variants, spreading person-to-person and causing widespread skin rashes.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is considering convening an expert committee to determine whether to declare an international emergency, similar to the one declared during the 2022 global mpox outbreak. The Clade Ib strain differs from others by causing rashes that cover the entire body rather than being limited to the mouth, face, and genitals.

As of August 3, the African Union’s health agency, Africa CDC, reported 14,479 confirmed and suspected cases and 455 deaths in the DRC, indicating a mortality rate of around three percent. However, researchers warn that the mortality rate could reach up to 10 percent among children.

The Congolese government acknowledged an “exponential increase” in cases last month, highlighting the urgent need for international attention and action to curb the spread of this virulent strain.

“The disease has been seen in the displacement camps around Goma in North Kivu where the extreme population density makes the situation very critical,” Louis Albert Massing, medical coordinator for Doctors Without Borders in DRC said.

“The risks of explosion are real given the enormous population movements” in the conflict-ridden region, which borders several countries, he added.

Already, the Clade Ib strain has jumped national borders — in the last two weeks, cases have been reported in Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and Kenya, Rosamund Lewis, the WHO’s technical lead for mpox, told AFP.

– ‘Raging’ –

Authorities in the four countries have confirmed mpox cases — Burundi in particular has reported 127 cases — without specifying the strain.

The eight-member East African Community (EAC) has urged governments to educate their citizens on how to protect themselves and prevent the spread of the disease.

Lewis, from the WHO, said it was the first time that the four countries lying to the east of DRC had reported mpox cases.

“Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda are countries that don’t have this disease in an endemic way… that means it’s an extension of the outbreak which is raging in the DRC and in Central Africa generally,” she said.

Africa CDC has also reported 35 suspected and confirmed cases, including two deaths, in Cameroon, 146 cases, including one death, in Congo Brazzaville, 227 cases in the Central African Republic, 24 in Nigeria, five in Liberia and four cases in Ghana.

In West Africa, Ivory Coast recently reported six confirmed non-fatal cases, five of which were in the economic capital Abidjan, without specifying the strain.

– Detection capacity –

Mpox was first discovered in humans in 1970 in the DRC, then called Zaire.

It has since been mainly limited to certain West and Central African nations. Humans mainly catch it from infected animals, such as when eating bushmeat.

In May 2022, mpox infections surged worldwide, mostly affecting gay and bisexual men.

That spike was driven by a new subtype, dubbed Clade II, which took over from Clade I.

Around 140 people died out of about 90,000 cases across 111 countries.

The outbreak is “still raging”, Lewis said, including in South Africa, which has seen 24 cases, three of which were fatal, but she added it was “controlled” and spreading less.

Mpox remains a global health threat, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned in early July.

Countries are now able to detect cases, Lewis said, pointing to a system of surveillance, laboratories and communication with affected areas.

It is hard to know if there has been “a substantial rise” in cases, or whether “it’s just a matter of increased awareness”, said Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention director, who confirmed concern over the Clade Ib strain.

“There are some vaccines that are licensed that can be used for mpox,” she said.

Negotiations between the WHO and affected countries are under way to authorise the use of one, Lewis said.

(AFP)