Mpox Clade 1b More Infectious, Says Study

New Delhi: The latest variant of Mpox clade 1b that is causing infections across the globe, particularly in Africa, is not only more infectious but also raises a high risk of miscarriage, according to a study led by international researchers.

The study based on genetic analyses of clade 1b -- first detected in September 2023 in Kamituga, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), showed that this variant has since undergone mutations making it more easily transmissible between humans.

In the study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, the scientists identified three new subvariants, one of which has spread beyond Kamituga to other cities in the DRC, neighbouring countries, and even internationally -- Sweden and Thailand.