Researchers from the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITG) in Antwerp have discovered a mutated strain of the mpox virus (monkeypox). The variant in question caused an outbreak in Kamituga, a densely populated mining town in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“The international health community is sounding the alarm,” the institute reports. The mutant is also transmitted through sexual contact and could potentially spread quickly to surrounding countries. That threat is exacerbated by the region’s mobile population, including miners and sex workers. That is why the World Health Organization is calling for action, especially because the virus is undetectable by some PCR tests.
In 2022, a variant of the mpox virus caused a global outbreak. After a few months, infections decreased in Europe, but the virus continues to claim victims in Africa. The first cases were identified in October last year during an outbreak in Kamituga, where MPox normally does not occur. Five months later, the new variant of the virus had spread rapidly, especially among young adults and sex workers.
“There is an urgent need for a new strategy that integrates MPOX into HIV and STD prevention programs,” said Professor Placide Mbala-Kingebeni of the Congolese National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB). “It is important that we focus on key groups and avoid stigmatization.”
The Institute of Tropical Medicine is currently investigating whether a vaccination campaign can contain the spread of the more aggressive variant. “If we do not strengthen contact tracing and do not deploy vaccines, there is a risk that the outbreak will spread,” concludes Laurens Liesenborghs (ITG). “In addition, we face obstacles such as logistical challenges and insufficient financing of local health infrastructure.”
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Tags: variant monkeypox virus discovered Congolese mining town
