The outbreak of mpox clade I in the Democratic Republic of Congo has spread to several countries in Africa.
An outbreak of mpox is ongoing in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The outbreak began in December 2022 and has since late autumn 2023 spread to most provinces in the country. Cases have also been reported from neighboring countries, including Burundi, Rwanda, Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Kenya and Uganda. The outbreak is caused by a new variant of mpox clade I which in African reports has been assessed as more serious, with significantly higher mortality, than clade IIb which has spread globally since the spring of 2022. There are no cases of mpox clade I reported in Sweden or the rest of the EU linked to the ongoing outbreaks in central and southern Africa.
In the outbreak, transmission routes are reported primarily from person to person, via close skin contact including sexual contact. Many children and young people have been infected and are among the seriously ill as well as among the deaths. Sexual transmission is reported both between men who have sex with men and as heterosexual transmission. So far in 2024, the Democratic Republic of Congo has reported approximately 2,600 laboratory-confirmed cases of mpox clade I and approximately 500 deaths. At the same time, there is a great lack of laboratory diagnostics, which makes the number in the dark large and significantly more clinically diagnosed cases have been reported.
Several aid organizations are working on the ground to support the Democratic Republic of Congo’s healthcare system by treating mpox patients. On August 13, the African infectious disease control authority declared a continental emergency, a so-called Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS).
Two vaccines for protection against mpox have been approved in the Democratic Republic of Congo and preparations for vaccination efforts are underway. Both vaccines are expected to offer good protection based on past experience.
On July 29, 2024, the EU’s infectious disease control authority (ECDC) published an updated assessment in which the risk of mpox clade I spreading within the EU is currently assessed as low. However, an increased observation of possible import cases was recommended. Depending on the continued spread of infection, the assessment may need to be revised.
