A new strain of mpox identified in China

Chinese authorities have confirmed a new strain of mpox following the discovery of an outbreak triggered by an away traveler with a history of travel and residence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The traveler, recently returned from a stay in the Democratic Republic of Congo, would have been exposed to a region declared a global health emergency by the WHO last summer, for the second time in two years, due to an epidemic affecting several neighboring countries.

He is believed to have been responsible for four other cases among people with whom he was in close contact.

Chinese authorities report that the strain endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo, known as clade I, is present on their territory.

They have detected a new variant of this strain, clade Ib, which seems to spread more easily.

Fortunately, people infected with this new mutant strain of mpox, clade Ib, in China showed only mild symptoms.

The WHO and global authorities remain on alert in view of the rise in mpox cases in recent years and its recent spread to many countries.

The virus, initially reported in Zambia, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi, has recently been detected in several countries, including Canada, India, Thailand, Sweden, Great Britain and Germany.

Last November, a first case of Clade I was also reported in the USA.