MPOX EMERGENCY OUTBREAK RESEARCHED BY EUROPEAN-AFRICAN CONSORTIUM
Rotterdam, May 2025 – In October 2024 JUA KIVU has been established – a consortium of researchers from five African and three European partners that conducts mpox emergency outbreak research. The aim is to better understand the dynamics of the ongoing mpox outbreak in the from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and other countries in the African Great Lakes region. JUA KIVU will provide evidence-based support for the containment of Mpox – build on ongoing activities and cross-border collaborations between the local African and European partners, as well as local frontline health authorities and healthcare professionals.
Virologist Marion Koopmans from the Erasmus MC – the coordinator of JUA KIVU – about the impact and importance of this research: “This is not just about doing research in Africa, it’s about working together to address a health crisis that affects communities there first and most severely. By understanding and containing the outbreak locally, we support those most at risk and help prevent further global spread. This is precisely why international collaboration is essential — only by standing together can we truly make a difference.”
What is Mpox
Mpox is a viral disease that primarily spreads through close (sexual) contact with an infected person. Mpox can cause severe illness, with symptoms that include a painful rash, swollen lymph nodes, and fever.
WHO declaration
The WHO declared mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) a public health emergency of international concern for the second time in August 14, 2024. The reason for this is the increase of cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the newly reported clade Ib spreading to neighboring countries (Mpox outbreak).
Discovery of new strain of the virus: Clade lb
The consortium recently discovered a new strain of the virus now known as Clade Ib, which is spreading rapidly across Central Africa, including DRC, Uganda, and Burundi. A novel PCR-based assay capable of detecting this new strain has already been developed by the consortium. However, many open questions remain, necessitating the urgent need for more research. More information is needed about how this new clade spreads, where it came from, how it adapts, what the risk population is, and how to detect outbreaks early.
The aims of JUA KIVU are:
- To study how the virus is spreading by on-site whole-genome sequencing.
- To investigate the origin of the virus by examining bush meat and serum samples from hunters.
- To investigate the potential role of viral and/or bacterial co-infections.
- To determine the extent of the outbreak through serology and wastewater surveillance in the cross-border regions.
- To set up antibody assays and study the immune response to the virus in selected populations.
- To assess household-level transmission dynamics and risk factors.
The consortium is closely working with health authorities across borders. Ultimately, the goal is to understand virus evolution and spread, to determine the extent of the outbreak among risk groups, and to develop new methods for early detection, including for secondary infections. Most of the data collection and analysis will be done locally, helping to build capacity for future epidemics.
Partners
Partners in this project are Erasmus University Medical Center (the Netherlands), Université Catholique de Bukavu (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Universidad de Castilla – la Mancha (Spain), Stansile Ltd (Rwanda), Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (Denmark), The Good Samaritan Foundation (Tanzania), Institut National de Santé Publique (Burundi) and Rwanda Biomedical Center (Rwanda).
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