US reports first case of rare new mpox variant in traveller

Health officials in US have confirmed the first US case of a new form of mpox that was first seen in eastern Congo.

The person had travelled to eastern Africa and was treated in Northern California upon return, according to the California Department of Public Health. Symptoms are improving and the risk to the public is low.

Earlier this year, scientists reported the emergence of a new form of mpox in Africa that was spread through close contact including through sex.

Since late September, over 3,100 confirmed cases of mpox have been reported, primarily in Burundi, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the World Health Organization. Cases of the new form have also been detected in Germany, India, Kenya, Sweden, Thailand, Zimbabwe, and the United Kingdom.

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Health officials have indicated that the situation in Congo appears to be stabilizing. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that Congo requires at least 3 million mpox vaccines to curb the spread, with another 7 million vaccines needed for the rest of Africa.

The current outbreak is different from the 2022 global outbreak of mpox where gay and bisexual men made up the vast majority of cases.

With inputs from agencies.