The World Health Organization (WHO) has noted signs of stabilization in mpox cases in the South Kivu region of the Congo, where a more infectious variant of the virus was first detected.
Despite a rise in cases in other areas, WHO reported Monday that the epicenter of the outbreak in South Kivu's Kamituga gold mining town may be "plateauing."
This variant has affected primarily miners and sex workers since its emergence earlier this year, leading health officials to remain vigilant in their monitoring efforts.
Though the trend appears hopeful in South Kivu, WHO acknowledged the limitations in testing and surveillance, making it challenging for researchers to fully understand the virus's spread and its exact reach.
Across Congo, data shows fewer than 100 recent laboratory-confirmed cases, a decline from nearly 400 in July.
However, while cases seem to be stabilizing in South Kivu, infections have increased in regions beyond Congo, including Burundi and Uganda.
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) estimates that about three million vaccines are needed to bring the outbreak under control in Congo, despite only 50,000 people having been vaccinated so far.
Africa CDC Director Dr. Jean Kaseya emphasized last week that Africa remains "in the acute phase" of the mpox epidemic, with 19 countries affected. He urged for more resources to prevent the virus from posing a global health risk.
In neighboring Burundi, the same infectious mpox variant has driven cases, often presenting milder symptoms. This may allow infected individuals to unknowingly spread the virus. Burundi reported over 200 new cases each week over the past two weeks, primarily affecting children and young adults.
Meanwhile, Uganda reported about 100 new cases last week, with WHO indicating that transmission is primarily occurring through sexual contact among adults.
Mpox, initially identified as monkeypox in research animals, spreads largely through skin-to-skin contact, contaminated clothing, and bedding.
The virus often results in visible lesions. WHO declared the mpox outbreak a global health emergency in August, with Africa reporting over 46,000 suspected cases and more than 1,000 deaths to date.
Last week, the UK reported the spread of the more contagious mpox variant beyond Africa for the first time. British health authorities confirmed that one infected person had recently traveled from Africa, and three other individuals in their household subsequently tested positive. All four patients are receiving treatment in London hospitals.
This incident underscores the need for continued vigilance in global monitoring and control of the virus.
To address growing concerns, WHO plans to convene an expert panel next week to evaluate whether mpox still constitutes an international health emergency. The meeting will assess the outbreak's trajectory and strategize on necessary global health measures to contain the virus's spread.