New mutant strain of monkeypox with 'pandemic potential' is discovered in Congo ... trends now
View
comments
A mutant strain of monkeypox with 'pandemic potential' has been found in a town in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The virus is a descendent of the deadlier clade 1 mpox strain, but has evolved to become even more infectious and better at evading tests than its predecessor.
The concerning discovery was made in Kamituga – a poor, densely populated gold mining town that is feared to be ripe for an explosive outbreak. So far there have been 108 cases.
Researchers who detailed the virus in a pre-print have called for 'urgent measures' to contain the virus and avoid a global outbreak.
The new virus is spreading in Kamituga – a poor, densely populated gold mining town that is feared to be ripe for an explosive outbreak (stock)
'Without intervention, this localised Kamituga outbreak harbors the potential to spread nationally and internationally,' the authors wrote.
'Given the recent history of mpox outbreaks in DRC, we advocate for swift action by endemic countries and the international community to avert another global mpox outbreak,' they add.
The researchers are concerned that the 'highly mobile' population of Kamituga could be the perfect breeding ground for the new virus.
