Mary Wilson
Well-known member
February 9, 2024, 8:06am
The ongoing mpox virus outbreak of Kamituga in South Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo, is associated with a novel Clade I sublineage
Authors:
Leandre Murhula Masirika1,2, Jean Claude Udahemuka3,4, Leonard Schuele5, Pacifique Ndishimye4,6,7, Saria Otani8, Justin Bengehya Mbiribindi9, Jean M. Marekani10, Léandre Mutimbwa Mambo11, Marjan Boter5, David F. Nieuwenhuijse5, Trudie Lang12, Ernest Balyahamwabo Kalalizi2, Jean Pierre Musabyimana4, Frank M. Aarestrup8, Marion Koopmans5, Bas B. Oude Munnink5*, Freddy Belesi Siangoli13*
Introduction
Mpox virus (MPXV) is an emerging zoonotic disease belonging to the Poxviridae family and the genus Orthopoxvirus. Sporadic outbreaks of MPXV with increased frequency have been described in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since the first detection in 1970 (Ladnyj et al, 1972). However, in 2022, a multi-country global outbreak of MPXV (Clade IIb) was declared by the WHO. The outbreak was predominantly described in Men Having Sex with Men (MSM) communities, although infections were also reported in individuals engaged in sexual contact with infected individuals.
Since the beginning of 2023 there have been reports of a sharp increase of suspected MPXV cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with the highest annual number of cases ever reported, new cases in geographic areas that had previously not reported mpox and an estimated case fatality rate of 4.6% (https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2023-DON493). Despite the seeming severity of the situation only very basic genomic information is currently available, suggesting the DRC outbreak is caused by Clade I viruses and is sexually transmissible (Kibungu et al, 2024). However, in view of the ongoing outbreak and suggestions of changing epidemiology, obtaining sequence information of the outbreak strain(s) is crucial. This sequence information is also essential to evaluate if this novel strain can still be detected by the current molecular assays used to diagnose MPXV infections. ...
https://virological.org/t/novel-cla...ivu-province-democratic-republic-of-congo/956
The ongoing mpox virus outbreak of Kamituga in South Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo, is associated with a novel Clade I sublineage
Authors:
Leandre Murhula Masirika1,2, Jean Claude Udahemuka3,4, Leonard Schuele5, Pacifique Ndishimye4,6,7, Saria Otani8, Justin Bengehya Mbiribindi9, Jean M. Marekani10, Léandre Mutimbwa Mambo11, Marjan Boter5, David F. Nieuwenhuijse5, Trudie Lang12, Ernest Balyahamwabo Kalalizi2, Jean Pierre Musabyimana4, Frank M. Aarestrup8, Marion Koopmans5, Bas B. Oude Munnink5*, Freddy Belesi Siangoli13*
Introduction
Mpox virus (MPXV) is an emerging zoonotic disease belonging to the Poxviridae family and the genus Orthopoxvirus. Sporadic outbreaks of MPXV with increased frequency have been described in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since the first detection in 1970 (Ladnyj et al, 1972). However, in 2022, a multi-country global outbreak of MPXV (Clade IIb) was declared by the WHO. The outbreak was predominantly described in Men Having Sex with Men (MSM) communities, although infections were also reported in individuals engaged in sexual contact with infected individuals.
Since the beginning of 2023 there have been reports of a sharp increase of suspected MPXV cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with the highest annual number of cases ever reported, new cases in geographic areas that had previously not reported mpox and an estimated case fatality rate of 4.6% (https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2023-DON493). Despite the seeming severity of the situation only very basic genomic information is currently available, suggesting the DRC outbreak is caused by Clade I viruses and is sexually transmissible (Kibungu et al, 2024). However, in view of the ongoing outbreak and suggestions of changing epidemiology, obtaining sequence information of the outbreak strain(s) is crucial. This sequence information is also essential to evaluate if this novel strain can still be detected by the current molecular assays used to diagnose MPXV infections. ...
https://virological.org/t/novel-cla...ivu-province-democratic-republic-of-congo/956