A mutation of an older variant that may feature enhanced transmissibility is giving scientists cause for concern. A new variant of mpox that may be better adapted to spread between people has been identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The new strain is a mutation of Clade 1a mpox – an older variant that has been known to cause more severe disease than Clade 2, which caused a global outbreak in 2022, or Clade 1b, which has been spreading rapidly in Africa since 2023.
Dr Ngashi Ngongo, who heads the mpox incident management team at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), said the new strain raises significant public health concerns.