Sat Feb 15 16:45:00 UTC 2025: ## Mpox Outbreak in DRC Primarily Linked to Sex Work: Study

**Kinshasa, DRC – February 15, 2025** – A new study published in *Nature Medicine* reveals a strong link between the rapid spread of mpox clade Ib in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and sex work. Researchers from Erasmus University Medical Center found that 83.4% of the 670 mpox cases studied between September 2023 and June 2024 in South Kivu were linked to sexual contact in bars, predominantly involving professional sex workers.

The study, led by Dr. Marion Koopmans, analyzed genomic and epidemiological data from patients admitted to Kamituga hospital. While the study period covered only a portion of the ongoing outbreak (over 9,500 cases confirmed as of January 5, 2025), it highlights a significant shift in the epidemiological pattern of clade Ib mpox. Unlike previous outbreaks in the DRC, this one shows a disproportionately high number of cases among adults, with a lower percentage involving children under 16. Women accounted for a slightly higher proportion of cases (52.4%) than men (47.6%).

The researchers also noted concerning findings related to pregnancy. Of fourteen pregnant women hospitalized, eight (57.1%) experienced fetal loss, with evidence of mpox infection in at least one fetus.

Genomic sequencing revealed multiple transmission chains, suggesting several ongoing outbreaks within the region. The high number of APOBEC3 mutations detected further indicates continuous human-to-human transmission. The study concludes that the outbreak’s rapid spread is largely attributable to sexual activity within densely populated areas, underscoring the need for targeted public health interventions. The researchers also suggest that considerable underdetection of cases is likely.

Read More