STUDIES INTO NEW STRAIN
There are two subtypes of mpox: Clade 1, endemic in the Congo Basin in central Africa; and Clade 2, endemic in West Africa.
The surge in the DR Congo is being driven by surges of two different Clade 1 strains.
The first is an outbreak in northwest DRC of what was previously known as Clade 1, now called Clade 1a.
The second, in northeastern DRC, is a new offshoot of Clade 1 called Clade 1b, which was first detected in September last year and is spreading rapidly.
The spread of Clade 1b, and its detection in nearby countries, were the main reasons behind the WHO sounding its top emergency alarm.
Clade 1 mpox is known to be more virulent than Clade 2 mpox and has a higher fatality rate.
As for whether Clade 1b is more dangerous than Clade 1a, Harris said: “We don’t have that data.”
“Studies are underway to understand the properties of the new strain. But available epidemiological data doesn’t really suggest that the clade 1b variant causes more severe cases and deaths.”
The WHO said on Tuesday that it needed US$87.4 million from September to February to implement its plans to contain the mpox outbreak.
Meanwhile, the UN refugee agency warned that displacement camps in the DRC and other impacted countries in Africa could be severely affected.
“Without additional, urgent support, the recently declared mpox outbreak could become devastating for refugees and displaced communities,” said UNHCR’s public health chief Allen Maina.
He said implementing mpox prevention measures among those fleeing violence was a “tremendous challenge”, with people driven into overcrowded shelters with poor sanitation, while others were cut off from humanitarian assistance.
Source: CNA
