New mpox outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) The rapid mutation of the virus has caused concern, exceeding initial expectations.
Scientists report that the virus, known as “clade 1b,” is spreading rapidly in areas with limited resources to monitor it. According to experts in Africa, Europe and the United States, this situation has created “numerous unknowns” regarding the severity and transmission of the virus, complicating the global response.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, has been a public health concern in parts of Africa for more than 50 years, but re-emerged as a global problem in 2022. On August 14, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a new health emergency due to this strain.
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Clade 1B has caused more than 18,000 suspected cases and 615 deaths in Congo this year. Additional cases have been reported in Africa, Sweden and Thailand.
Faced with this crisis, WHO launched a global strategic preparedness and response plan based on its earlier recommendations. This plan focuses on surveillance, prevention and response strategies, Advances in research and equitable access to diagnostics and vaccines, reduction of animal-to-human transmission and community participation in outbreak control.
As the BBC reports, the current outbreak is severely affecting children in eastern DRC, who account for around 75% of treated cases. This is due to their less developed immune systems and overcrowded lifestyles.
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However, a WHO official insisted at a UN press conference on August 20 that mpox “is not the new COVID-19.” He emphasized that health authorities have the necessary knowledge and tools to control its spread.
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