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Mpox May Be Spreading More Widely in Africa Than Feared
20 Jan
Summary
- Mpox may be spreading asymptomatically, challenging previous beliefs about the virus.
- Study in Nigeria found mpox antibodies in 3% of healthy adults without symptoms.
- Researchers suggest active blood testing for mpox exposure in endemic areas.
New research indicates that mpox might be circulating more extensively across Africa than current estimates suggest, primarily due to asymptomatic transmission. A study conducted by the University of Cambridge analyzed blood samples from Nigerian adults and found that approximately 3% had antibodies indicating recent mpox infection, despite reporting no symptoms.
This finding challenges the long-held belief that mpox primarily spreads through symptomatic individuals. Researchers propose that actively testing blood samples for antibodies in regions where mpox is endemic, such as West and Central Africa, could offer a more effective surveillance method. Such an approach would aid in protecting vulnerable populations, including young children and individuals with weakened immune systems.
The study's lead author highlighted that mpox exposure doesn't always conform to typical symptom presentation, with the virus potentially circulating unnoticed. This research could help explain undetected spread observed in recent global outbreaks, including the emergence of a new variant, clade 1b, in the Democratic Republic of Congo in late 2023.
