A study warned of the acceleration of the spread of the Imbox virus (previously known as the monkeys) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the emergence of a new, more able to transmit between humans, which increases fears of wider outbreaks.
The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Technology in Denmark and research institutes from six different countries: Democratic Congo, Rwanda, Denmark, UK, Spain, and the Netherlands, and its results were published in the Nature Medicine magazine in February, and the Yorik Alier site was written about.
The museum is known as a variable version of the original virus, which occurred by genetic mutations during its multiplication, which may lead to a difference in its ability to spread or the severity of its effect on the injured.
What is the Imbox virus?
The World Health Organization has defined monkeys as a viral disease caused by a virus belonging to the Poxiridae family, the same family that includes the human smallpox virus. The disease is characterized by the appearance of a rash that goes through several stages before recovery, along with other symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, and enlarged lymph nodes.
The virus was discovered for the first time in 1958 at the laboratory monkeys, hence its name, and its first human injury was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Monkery chickenpox has witnessed several transformations since its discovery, as its spread has been limited in Africa decades, before spreading globally in 2022, and moved to humans on a large scale, after the prevailing belief that monkey chickenpox is mainly transmitted from animals such as rodents and monkeys to humans.
Based on genetic analyzes, the virus is divided into two main types that differ in terms of spreading areas and severity of symptoms:
- Clade I: It spreads in central and eastern Africa, and is considered the most dangerous. The Clade 1 AA is located in the Congo and Sudan, and Clade IB, which is currently concern because of its increasing ability to transition between humans.
- Clade II: It spreads in West Africa, which is less dangerous than the Clyde 1. Which started in 2022.
The new and its rapid spread
Clyid 1 B was first monitored in September 2023 in the city of Kametega, south of Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Genetic analyzes revealed that it developed into three sub -types, one of which spread to other cities within the Congo, then to countries such as Sweden and Thailand.
The spread of Clyde 1B differs from the outbreak in 2022, with a height of injuries in children and health workers.
Research has revealed that Claid 1B may increase the risk of miscarriage in women with women, an unprecedented development in the history of the spread of the virus.
Increasing injuries and new health risks
The number of injuries confirmed to the new conversation, Clyde 1B until January 5, reached more than 9,500 cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo alone, with a death rate of 3.4%, equivalent to approximately 323 deaths.
The researchers participating in the study analyzed samples of 670 patients with virus, and the results revealed that injuries were distributed to 52.4% of women and 47.6% of men, most of which were transmitted through sexual contact. 7 deaths were recorded among patients who underwent analysis.
8 out of 14 pregnant women infected with the virus were aborted, indicating the possibility of the virus to be associated with the high risk of pregnancy loss.
Urgent procedures to contain the outbreak
The researchers believe that the continued spread of this boss without immediate intervention may lead to a new global outbreak. For this, scientists call for an urgent local and international response to reduce its seriousness. The necessary procedures include enhancing health monitoring of new cases quickly, intensifying health awareness campaigns about the means of transmission and prevention of the virus, as well as expanding the scope of vaccination in the most affected areas, and issuing travel warnings to hypnotic areas.
Experts confirm that the relaxation in taking preventive measures may allow the virus to need more, which makes it difficult to contain later.