Deadlier Mpox Strain Spreads in DRC, Sparking Global Concern

New evidence suggests sexual transmission of the more lethal Clade I strain, mirroring the previous global outbreak caused by Clade II.

Deadlier strain of mpox, Clade I, is spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), causing concern among health organizations worldwide.
Clade I is more infectious and lethal than Clade II, which caused a global outbreak in 2022 and 2023.
New evidence suggests Clade I can be transmitted through sexual contact, a major driver of the previous global outbreak.
DRC has reported over 13,000 mpox cases in 2023, more than double the number during the last peak in 2020.
Despite the availability of a vaccine, the CDC warns that vaccination coverage in the US is low, with only one in four people eligible having received both doses.