A new strain of the mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) virus, called clade Ib, is spreading rapidly across multiple African countries, raising urgent questions about its transmissibility, severity, and vaccine effectiveness. Unlike earlier versions of the virus, which were primarily transmitted from animals to humans, clade Ib spreads largely through human contact, including sexual transmission. This has led to over 18,000 suspected cases and 600 deaths, mainly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Infectious disease experts are now racing to understand whether clade Ib is more deadly or transmissible than previous strains, and how effective current smallpox vaccines, such as Jynneos and LC16m8, will be in curbing this outbreak. Early studies suggest that clade Ib’s genome contains mutations likely induced by the human immune system, indicating that it has been circulating in humans for a longer time than initially thought.

Although wealthier countries have pledged to donate vaccines, there are delays in vaccine approval and distribution, making it harder to contain the outbreak. Public health experts warn that this new strain presents broader challenges, especially given Africa’s limited access to vaccines and resources.

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For more detailed insights, check out the full article in Nature