CDC issues warning over new, more deadly strain of mpox
World Health Organization said the Democratic Republic of Congo was experiencing its worst-ever recorded outbreak of the disease.
There have been 12,000 cases so far this year, and 600 deaths. That’s 5% of those infected.That’s way more deaths than compared to the outbreak in the US and Europe in 2022.It’s clear this is a new strain of the disease and it’s more deadly than the previous strain.
Mpox (formerly called monkeypox) occurs in DRC in rural areas, but usually there are around 3,000 cases each year.This strain is spreading in urban areas.
It has been noted particularly among men who have sex with men, and among sex workers. Health experts point to this as evidence it’s likely to be sexually transmittable.The WHO says one case of the new infection, known as Clade I MPXV, was detected in a Belgian man.
