Another Mpox Viral Clade Can Be Transmitted Sexually

Clade I MPXV, endemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and previously thought to be zoonotic, is also transmitted through sexual contact in humans.

Mpox virus (MPXV) is endemic in several regions of Central and West Africa; in 2022, however, >86,000 cases were reported in non-endemic areas, and the epidemic was deemed a public health emergency by WHO. MPXV has been subclassified into two clades (I and II, further subdivided into IIa and IIb). The 2022 outbreak was attributed to clade IIb, and >90% of infections were linked to sexual contact among men who have sex with men.

Now, investigators in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have confirmed a cluster of clade I MPXV-associated infections reported to be sexually transmitted. Case patient 1 had sexual contact with the source patient (thought to be European) 1 week before returning to the DRC. Patient 1 exhibited genital pruriti…

Reviewing Author

Stephen G. Baum, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardClinical Infectious Diseases

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsMedical Letter

Stephen G. Baum, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardClinical Infectious Diseases

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsMedical Letter

Another Mpox Viral Clade Can Be Transmitted Sexually

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Reviewing Author