Sexual Transmission Of Monkeypox Confirmed In Congo Amid Record Outbreak

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed the occurrence of sexual transmission of monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), marking a significant development in the country's ongoing outbreak and raising concerns among African scientists about the potential for increased difficulty in containing the disease.

In a recent statement, WHO revealed that a Belgian man who visited the DRC in March tested positive for monkeypox shortly after his arrival. The man, who identifies as gay, frequented underground clubs catering to men who have sex with men (MSM).

Subsequently, five individuals with whom the man had sexual contact also tested positive for monkeypox, marking the first confirmed instance of sexual transmission of the virus in Africa, according to Oyewale Tomori, a Nigerian virologist affiliated with WHO.

Monkeypox, previously confined to sporadic outbreaks primarily transmitted from infected rodents to humans in parts of Central and West Africa, experienced widespread epidemics among MSM in Europe last year, with over 100 countries reporting approximately 91,000 cases.

WHO has highlighted the presence of numerous discreet clubs catering to same-sex relationships in the DRC, warning of the potential for monkeypox to spread rapidly within these networks. Notably, the current outbreak in the DRC, with over 12,500 infections and approximately 580 deaths, has for the first time spread to Kinshasa, the country's capital, and the conflict-ridden South Kivu province.

Tomori said that the number of cases reported in the DRC outbreak may be an underestimate, suggesting that similar occurrences could be happening across Africa due to inadequate disease surveillance. He cautioned against driving at-risk populations underground, as this could hinder disease containment efforts.

Despite the severity of the outbreak, Tomori lamented the lack of vaccination campaigns in Africa, stressing the urgent need for a more comprehensive approach to address the escalating situation.