WHO Urges Action To Combat New Mpox Strain Spreading In DRC

Reuters (6/25, Rigby) reports, “The spread of mpox in Africa needs to be addressed urgently, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday, as scientists warned separately of a dangerous strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo.” The new strain “has fatality rates of around 5% in adults and 10% in children.” So far in 2024, “roughly 8,600 mpox cases have been reported in Congo, and 410 deaths, Cris Kacita, the doctor in charge of operations in the country’s mpox control programme, told Reuters last week.” Medications and vaccines to treat the virus “are not available in Congo. The WHO and scientists said efforts were ongoing to address that.”