Researchers have identified a new variant of monkeypox in the gold mining town of Kamituga, Democratic Republic of the Congo, with characteristics that make it highly worrying for public health. This strain, a descendant of the clade 1 mpox strain, has been classified as 'clade 1b', and it has become even more infectious and skilled at evading evidence compared to her predecessor.
The discovery, revealed in a pre-printed document, has sparked alarm among the international scientific community. 108 cases of this new strain have been reported, with two deaths confirmed to date. Experts warn of the pandemic potential of this localized outbreak, urging urgent measures to contain its spread.
The high mobility of Kamituga's population, characterized by miners and sex workers from neighboring countries such as Rwanda and Burundi, adds an additional layer of complexity to the control of the disease, monkeypox. Many people with symptoms remain without seeking medical care, making efforts to contain the virus even more difficult.
The data shows that about 30% of cases affect sex workers, suggesting a transmission pattern similar to the 2022 outbreak. In addition, 85% of those infected have genital lesions, and 10% have required hospitalization.
Experts emphasize the urgency of distributing vaccines and medicines, as well as implementing surveillance and contact tracing measures in the affected area.
However, the lack of local health infrastructure prepared to face a large-scale epidemic stands out, highlighting the need for a coordinated and effective response.
This finding takes on special relevance in a context where the Democratic Republic of the Congo has already faced challenges with more lethal variants of the virus.
The research, carried out by Congolese scientists in collaboration with experts from multiple countries, has been discussed at a meeting of health ministers from 12 countries convened by the African Centers for Disease Control.
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