Context: Attempts are being made to contain the largest Mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Researchers have shown that a new form of the disease that was found in a mining community may be more contagious.

About Monkeypox

• The monkeypox virus is the infectious agent that causes mpox, often known as monkeypox.

• It may result in fever, swollen lymph nodes, and an excruciating rash.

• The virus that causes mpox, also known as monkeypox, is the enveloped double-stranded DNA virus of theOrthopoxvirus genus in the Poxviridae family, which also includes vaccinia, cowpox, variola, and other viruses.

• Clades I and II, the virus's two genetic clades, are native to Central and West Africa and are related to

• Clade 1:Up to 10% of those infected can die from Clade 1, which is more severe.

• Clade 2: The 2022 outbreak was started by Clade 2, and over 99% of those infected recovered.

• Transmission:The mpox can spread from person to person by direct contact with infected skin or other lesions including those on the mouth or genitalia.

• Global Outbreaks: Mpox gained global attention during a widespread outbreak that affected over 100,000 people in more than 118 countries in 2022-2023.

• The outbreak was characterised by high human-to-human transmission, particularly through close contact and the sexual route.

• WHO Declaration: The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency, leading to coordinated efforts to control its spread.

Genomic Features

• Clades and Lineages: Mpox genomes are divided into clades I and II, with evidence suggesting clade I has higher mortality.

• The 2022 outbreak involved a new lineage, clade IIb, better adapted for human-to-human transmission.

• Genomic Analysis: Researchers found evidence of a distinct lineage of clade I associated with human-to-human transmission, suggesting a recent zoonotic spillover event.

• Evolutionary Adaptations: Mpox viruses can undergo genomic accordion through gene duplication or deletion to adapt to different hosts and environments.

• A study published in Nature Communications sequenced the genome of the mpox virus from the 2022 outbreak, revealing that certain sections strongly influence human-to-human transmission and are the virus's genomic accordions.