WHO Warns of New Mpox Strain in Africa

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Facts

• Scientists from the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a warning Tuesday over the spread of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, in Africa, with other scientists drawing attention to a new strain found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).¹
• Around 8.6K mpox cases have been reported in the DRC this year, resulting in 410 deaths. A new strain, which is a mutated version of the clade I mpox endemic seen in the DRC for decades, reportedly has a 5% fatality rate for adults and 10% for children.²
• In the DRC's South Kivu province, researchers said mpox is most prevalent among gay men, particularly sex workers. However, women have also contracted it, resulting in some miscarriages, with children also contracting the virus from caregivers.¹
• In the South Kivu mining town of Kamituga, one local health department researcher said they were receiving 20 cases per week. He added that 24 of the 26 provinces in the Congo were dealing with what he described as the worst-ever mpox epidemic.²
• This comes roughly a week after three men tested positive for the virus in South Australia. Australia has seen 67 cases so far this year, up from zero last year and two in 2022.³
• mpox, which is contracted through close contact and results in flu-like symptoms and lesions, is often mild, though sometimes deadly. A strain that spread globally in 2022, called clade IIb, is less severe, with vaccines and treatments widely available, though not in the DRC.¹

Sources: ¹Reuters.com, ²NBC and ³7NEWS.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by The Lancet. As Africa faces the brunt of the mpox outbreak, research on how to combat the virus is vital. However, with studies limited to wealthier countries, clinical trials and outbreak surveillance must be funded with a primary focus on hard-hit African countries. Poorer countries shouldn't be left helpless simply due to economic inequality.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Science. While the initial mpox outbreaks may have come from animals, it appears the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is conducting gain-of-function research yet again. No scientist or government should be conducting studies that have the potential to make these diseases even deadlier in the face of an existing endemic in Africa.

Predictions