Beware of the deadliest monkeypox strain

The monkeypox virus strain known as clade Ib, recently identified in Africa, is considered the most dangerous variant, capable of causing fatalities and spreading rapidly. Initially detected in a remote area of the Democratic Republic of Congo in September 2023, the virus has now spread to towns near the Rwandan border, close to Burundi and Uganda. Concerns have been raised by experts regarding the potential for a global outbreak, although they have not yet declared it a pandemic.

Trudie Lang, the director of the Global Health Network at the University of Oxford, emphasized the importance of vigilance and immediate action to contain the spread of the virus in the region. John Claude Udahemuka, a lecturer at the University of Rwanda, described this new strain of monkeypox as the most dangerous among all known versions, with severe consequences like miscarriage and blindness.

Monkeypox is primarily transmitted through close contact, including skin-to-skin contact. Symptoms include flu-like illness followed by a painful rash that progresses into pus-filled blisters and lesions. Previous strains had limited transmission, with clade I typically spreading within households and clade IIb spreading globally, mainly through sexual contact. The new clade Ib strain can be transmitted through both routes.

The emergence of this new strain is particularly concerning as it has shown a higher mortality rate compared to previous strains. Leandre Murhula Masirika, a health coordinator in Congo, reported a significant number of cases and deaths linked to monkeypox in the country. Urgent measures are needed to prevent further spread, with a focus on understanding the virus, developing vaccines, and implementing safety protocols.

Recent history has seen outbreaks of monkeypox among diverse populations, with the virus affecting individuals in the United States, Europe, and Vietnam. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency of international concern in response to the outbreak in 2021-2023. Efforts are now underway to combat the spread of the virus, with a particular focus on at-risk populations and effective vaccination strategies.