Sex work causes mpox clade. DR Congo’s Ib outbreak

• The outbreak of mpox clade Ib in DRC is primarily linked to sex work within densely populated areas, with 83.4% of cases infected.

• The outbreak began in September 2023 in South Kivu and has since spread to over 9,500 laboratory confirmed cases.

• Most cases belong to clade 1b, which is highly transmissible and more virulent than clade 2.

• Of the 670 cases admitted to Kamituga hospital, 52.4% were females and 47.6% were males.

• Seven deaths were noted among hospitalised patients, with four of the seven fatalities in young adults.

• Fourteen pregnant women were hospitalized, with eight suffering miscarriage.

• The first case reported was linked to a bar visit on September 29, 2023.

• Of the 670 hospitalised mpox cases, 83.4% reported recent sexual contact in bars, with 44.6% female and 38.8% male.