1. Sustained human outbreak of a new MPXV clade I lineage in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Author
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Vakaniaki, Emmanuel, Kacita, Cris, Kinganda-Lusamaki, Eddy, OToole, Áine, Wawina-Bokalanga, Tony, Mukadi-Bamuleka, Daniel, Amuri-Aziza, Adrienne, Malyamungu-Bubala, Nadine, Mweshi-Kumbana, Franklin, Mutimbwa-Mambo, Léandre, Belesi-Siangoli, Freddy, Mujula, Yves, Parker, Edyth, Muswamba-Kayembe, Pauline-Chloé, Nundu, Sabin, Lushima, Robert, Makangara-Cigolo, Jean-Claude, Mulopo-Mukanya, Noella, Pukuta-Simbu, Elisabeth, Akil-Bandali, Prince, Kavunga, Hugo, Abdramane, Ombotimbe, Brosius, Isabel, Bangwen, Eugene, Vercauteren, Koen, Sam-Agudu, Nadia, Mills, Edward, Tshiani-Mbaya, Olivier, Hoff, Nicole, Rimoin, Anne, Hensley, Lisa, Kindrachuk, Jason, Baxter, Cheryl, de Oliveira, Tulio, Ayouba, Ahidjo, Peeters, Martine, Delaporte, Eric, Ahuka-Mundeke, Steve, Mohr, Emma, Sullivan, Nancy, Muyembe-Tamfum, Jean-Jacques, Nachega, Jean, Rambaut, Andrew, Liesenborghs, Laurens, and Mbala-Kingebeni, Placide
- Subjects
Humans ,Democratic Republic of the Congo ,Disease Outbreaks ,Mpox (monkeypox) ,Female ,Male ,Adult ,Monkeypox virus ,Young Adult ,Phylogeny ,Adolescent ,Animals ,Middle Aged ,Genome ,Viral ,Mutation ,Child - Abstract
Outbreaks of monkeypox (mpox) have historically resulted from zoonotic spillover of clade I monkeypox virus (MPXV) in Central Africa and clade II MPXV in West Africa. In 2022, subclade IIb caused a global epidemic linked to transmission through sexual contact. Here we describe the epidemiological and genomic features of an mpox outbreak in a mining region in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, caused by clade I MPXV. Surveillance data collected between September 2023 and January 2024 identified 241 suspected cases. Genomic analysis demonstrates a distinct clade I lineage divergent from previously circulating strains in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Of the 108 polymerase chain reaction-confirmed mpox cases, the median age of individuals was 22 years, 51.9% were female and 29% were sex workers, suggesting a potential role for sexual transmission. The predominance of APOBEC3-type mutations and the estimated emergence time around mid-September 2023 imply recent sustained human-to-human transmission.
- Published
- 2024