Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 10: Chinese health officials have identified a new mutated strain of mpox, called clade Ib, which is spreading globally. This strain is linked to a foreigner who had lived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and additional cases were found among close contacts. Symptoms in the patients are mild, including skin rashes and blisters.

Mpox, which spreads through close contact, causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. While most cases are mild, severe cases can be fatal. The WHO declared mpox a global public health emergency in 2023 after outbreaks in Congo, with clade Ib thought to spread more easily, including through sexual contact.

The strain is now spreading in neighbouring countries, including Burundi and Kenya. China has implemented monitoring measures, and mpox is classified as a category B infectious disease, allowing for emergency responses. The new strain is more virulent and has a higher mortality rate of up to 10%. The WHO has approved a two-dose vaccine for prevention.

Mpox is caused by the monkeypox virus, which was first identified in 1958. While most cases resolve on their own, severe cases require antiviral treatment.