Global Concerns Rise as More Infectious and Deadly Strain of Mpox Spreads
The CDC has issued a notice about a more infectious strain of mpox, called clade I, that has emerged in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), causing nearly 600 deaths this year. The strain has not yet been detected in the United States, but the CDC has issued a level two advisory, urging travelers to practice enhanced precautions. The outbreak in the DRC has shown clusters among men who have sex with men and sex workers, but it is difficult to determine if sexual transmission is a major factor due to limited resources and stigma. Vaccines and treatments for mpox have not been allowed into the DRC due to various barriers. Inequities persist in the treatment and prevention of mpox, with a disproportionate number of deaths and low vaccination rates among Black patients in the U.S. due to structural barriers to care.
