Europe must prepare for the ‘most dangerous’ MPOX variant yet, which is believed to be behind a wave of miscarriages in Africa, experts warn.
A mutated form of the rash-causing virus is spreading rampantly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), killing an estimated 10 percent of those infected.
It is a descendant of the deadly clade 1 strain of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, and distinct from the mild version that spread to more than a dozen countries in 2022, including the United Kingdom.
Experts are concerned because the new version has evolved to be even more contagious than its predecessor, with one British expert noting it could easily spread further by plane.
Scientists said the species, first discovered in February, was “undoubtedly” the “most dangerous species” yet and would inevitably “cross borders”.
A mutated form of the rash-causing virus is spreading rampantly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), killing up to 10 percent of those infected. It is a descendant of the deadly clade 1 strain of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, and distinct from the mild version that spread to more than a dozen countries, including the United Kingdom, in 2022.
They urged swift action from the international community to help prevent a possible international mpox outbreak.
The latest data from the World Health Organization shows that more than 7,800 MPOX cases have been recorded in the country alone in 2024, including 384 deaths.
However, it is unclear exactly how many cases and deaths the new strain causes as older versions are still circulating.
But Leandre Murhula Masirika, research coordinator at the health department in DRC’s South Kivu province, said known cases are “just the tip of the iceberg.”
“The number of cases is getting higher and higher every day, and it is only a matter of time before it spreads to other countries,” he added.
“Most of the patients we have in the DRC are patients who have ties to neighboring countries.”
To date, all cases have been reported in DRC cities bordering the countries of Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda.
Experts said it is highly likely the virus has already reached these neighboring countries, although no cases have been confirmed anywhere other than the DRC.
Sex workers regularly travel between the DRC and its neighboring countries, meaning this could be a possible route of transmission, the scientists warned.
The city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo also has an international airport that offers frequent direct flights to Europe – a potential route to the continent for the virus, Mr Masirika warned.
Another, less severe form of MPOX, called clade II, caused global alarm among health officials in 2022 when the disease began spreading rapidly across multiple countries, mainly through sexual contact among gay and bisexual men.
However, the number of new infections gradually decreased due to increased awareness of the disease and a rushed vaccination program.
At the time, Britain reported almost 4,000 cases, with NHS England vaccinating more than 68,000 people against the disease with the smallpox vaccine, which works because the two viruses are closely related.
But experts said there was not yet enough evidence to suggest the vaccine would be effective against this new strain.
They believe the disease can spread in other ways besides sexual contact.
Professor Trudie Lang, director of the Global Health Network at the University of Oxford, told reporters today that the mutated strain also spreads through simple touch.
She said this meant it passed easily from mother to child, as well as in schools and workplaces. Another worrying aspect was that infection caused an ‘alarming’ number of miscarriages in pregnant women.
Experts also said that some cases had even resulted in irreversible vision loss, as well as recurring skin rashes all over the body.
The mortality rate from infection is estimated to be between 5 and 10 percent in adults and children respectively, similar to its ancestor.
So far, about 600 patients with the mutant strain have been identified in Kamituga, the city where the mutant was first spotted.
However, experts warn that the real figure could be much higher as hospitals only record serious cases requiring advanced care.
The number of asymptomatic cases, or people with minimal symptoms, who could still spread the infection, is also still unknown.
Professor Lang added that it remained to be seen whether the new strain could cause a pandemic, but urged authorities to be prepared.
“The pandemic question is always difficult. We really have to be vigilant now and try to take action to contain it.
“There’s always room to get it on a plane,” she said.