A new mutant strain of monkeypox with ‘pandemic potential’ has been identified in a town in the Democratic Republic of Congo, raising concerns among health officials. The virus, a descendant of the deadlier clade 1 mpox strain, has evolved to be more infectious and better at evading tests. This worrying discovery was made in Kamituga, a densely populated gold mining town where 108 cases have been reported so far.

Researchers have emphasized the need for urgent measures to contain the virus and prevent a global outbreak. They warn that without intervention, the localized outbreak in Kamituga could spread nationally and internationally. The mobile population in the town, including miners and sex workers from neighboring countries, poses a significant risk for the virus to spread further.

The healthcare infrastructure in the area is deemed ill-equipped to handle a large-scale epidemic, prompting calls for the rollout of vaccines, drugs, and enhanced surveillance and contact tracing measures. The history of mpox outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo highlights the importance of swift action by endemic countries and the international community to prevent another global mpox outbreak.

In 2022, mpox caused an international epidemic that reached over 100 countries and resulted in numerous fatalities. The current situation in Kamituga underscores the need for proactive measures to prevent the escalation of this new mutant strain of monkeypox.