Authorities have declared the outbreak a nationwide health emergency. Scientists believe that the mutation is more easily passed on but has a lower mortality rate.
An outbreak of a new form of smallpox has emerged in Congo, killing around 300 people since the start of the year, The Independent reports.
A new form of smallpox discovered in a mining town may spread more easily among people, scientists say. Congo has reported more than 4,500 suspected cases since January.
Local authorities have declared the outbreak a nationwide health emergency.
“Analysis of patients hospitalized between October and January in the town of Komituga in eastern Congo suggests that the recent genetic mutations of the smallpox virus are the result of its ongoing human transmission; this is happening in a city where humans have little contact with wild animals, which, are believed to be natural carriers of disease,” the article said.
Lead study author Placide Mbala-Kingebeni said “we are at a new stage in the development of smallpox.” According to him, the results of this study will soon be published in one of the journals. The publication added that Mbala-Kingebeni is the head of a laboratory at Congo’s National Institute of Biomedical Research that studies the genetics of diseases.
At the same time, the researcher noted that the lesions reported by most patients are mild and located in the genital areas, making it difficult to diagnose the disease. In previous outbreaks in Africa, lesions were commonly seen on the chest, arms and legs. He added that the new form probably has a lower mortality rate.
Mbala-Kingebeni said that in Congo, less than half of people with smallpox are tested.
“The danger is that unless the patients come to us, we will have a silent transmission of the disease and no one will know about it,” he warned.
The expert noted that most people are infected through sex, and about a third of smallpox cases are identified among people who provide intimate services. However, most cases of the disease occur in gay or bisexual men.
Although smallpox epidemics in the West have been stopped thanks to vaccines and treatment, little is available in the Congo. Right now, officials are talking to donor countries like Japan to help buy the vaccines.
Let’s remember that years ago the world fought against monkeypox in humans. However, a year ago, the World Health Organization decided to no longer consider monkeypox a global health emergency.
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.