The Telegraph: Mutated strain of mpox with ‘pandemic potential’ found in DRC mining town

The outbreak in Kamituga, which is described as having “pandemic potential”, raises unnerving questions: not only has the virus never been reported in the region before, but – unusually – it is spreading in an urban hub and predominantly infecting adults, especially sex workers. 

“We’re seeing evolutionary changes within the virus that’s suggestive of increased human transmission… and we’re seeing the changing demographics in this one specific region of Congo,” said Dr. Jason Kindrachuk, an associate professor in infectious disease at the University of Manitoba in Canada and co-author of the paper.

“This is very important, because it’s suggestive of a change in the epidemiology [distribution] of the disease,” he told the Telegraph. 

To read the full story with Dr. Kindrachuk, please visit The Telegraph.