A new strain of the mpox virus spreading quickly along the eastern border of Democratic Republic of Congo is “incredibly worrying”, say health officials monitoring its spread.
The virus, which can cause lesions across the whole body, is making some people very ill and can be deadly.
The current outbreak has been driven by sexual transmission but there is evidence this strain can also be passed on through close skin-to-skin contact.
Global health experts say the new variant risks cross-border and international spread of the virus, with one calling it the “most dangerous strain yet”.
A worldwide epidemic of mpox in 2022 was brought under control by vaccinating vulnerable groups.