Congo's Largest Mpox Outbreak Now Spreading via Sexual Transmission

Discrimination against gay and bisexual men, the most affected group, could exacerbate the situation, warn scientists.

Congo is currently experiencing its largest outbreak of mpox, also known as monkeypox, with about 13,350 suspected cases and 607 deaths reported through the end of November.
For the first time, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that mpox is being spread via sexual transmission in Congo, a significant departure from previous outbreaks where the virus was mainly transmitted through contact with diseased animals.
Most of the 91,000 people infected in approximately 100 countries in 2022 were gay or bisexual men, and scientists warn that discrimination against these groups in Africa could worsen the outbreak.
There is currently no licensed vaccine for mpox in Congo, and the country is facing regulatory issues in acquiring a Japanese mpox vaccine. Globally, only one vaccine has been authorized against mpox, made by Denmark’s Bavarian Nordic.
Experts predict that without greater efforts to stop the outbreaks in Africa, mpox will continue to infect new populations and could spark outbreaks in other countries, similar to the global emergency WHO declared last year.