The world could stop central Africa’s deadly mpox outbreak if it wanted to
April 16, 2025
As global attention to mpox wanes, the virus continues to surge across Central Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where the more lethal clade I variant has caused over 16,000 cases and 500 deaths in 2024. Despite its severity, clade I has received little global investment in vaccines, diagnostics, or surveillance compared to clade IIb, which triggered global alarm in 2022. Scientists now warn of clade Ib, a new subvariant with increased transmissibility. Equitable vaccine access, rapid testing, and global coordination remain vital to stop the spread—before the outbreak jumps borders and becomes another preventable global crisis.
The global response to the ongoing mpox outbreak remains woefully inadequate, particularly in regions hardest hit by the deadliest strain. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to grapple with escalating clade I mpox cases, with over 16,000 infections and 511 deaths reported in 2024. Children under five remain especially vulnerable, and mortality rates range between 3% and 10%, exacerbated by limited access to critical care. Despite these alarming figures, global attention and resources remain focused on wealthier countries, exposing glaring inequities in the international public health response.
Unlike the 2022–23 outbreak of clade IIb, which drew rapid intervention in the Global North, the clade I epidemic in Africa has unfolded with limited access to vaccines, diagnostics, or global support. Most low- and middle-income countries have been priced out of access to the Jynneos vaccine, which costs approximately $100 per dose. Regulatory delays, insufficient donations, and limited laboratory capacity have further hindered Africa’s containment efforts. The emergence of a mutated clade Ib subvariant—now confirmed to have reached Europe—has heightened concerns about international spread.
Nonetheless, this outbreak is not beyond control. With coordinated global leadership, equal access to vaccines, widespread diagnostic testing, and robust contact tracing, the spread of clade Ib can be curbed. The World Health Organization’s declaration of a public health emergency of international concern must be matched by material support: emergency vaccine licensing, investment in surveillance infrastructure, and rapid scale-up of immunization campaigns in endemic countries.
This outbreak is a stark reminder that global health security is only as strong as its weakest link. Without immediate action to address the widening equity gap, the clade Ib outbreak risks becoming a repeat of past failures—where delayed global responses have cost thousands of lives and allowed preventable epidemics to spread.