Fears emerge over new 'most dangerous' mpox strain crossing borders

Researchers are cautioning that a more contagious and lethal form of mpox is spreading rapidly in Congo, resulting in the deaths of children and miscarriages. There is concern that this strain may have already reached neighboring countries.

According to Jean Claude Udahemuka, a researcher at the University of Rwanda studying the outbreak, every country should be getting ready for "this new variant before it spreads to other areas, before it becomes too late."

A new type of mpox, also known as monkeypox, became a worldwide issue in 2022, reaching over 110 countries. The outbreak primarily impacted gay and bisexual men, with the clade II strain being the most common.