Epidemiological characteristics of monkeypox virus Clade Ib in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Monkeypox virus (MPXV) Clade Ib, a new MPXV subclade associated with sustained human-to-human transmission, emerged in eastern DRC in late 2023. Early spread mainly occurred among the adult population, primarily through sexual contact. We investigate how key epidemiological characteristics of the new MPXV Clade Ib outbreak in the DRC differ by transmission mode. We estimate the mean serial interval to be 8.57 days (95% CI 7.15 - 9.91 days). The serial interval is approximately four days shorter for putative sexual compared to non-sexual transmission. We estimate the mean incubation period to be 9.56 days (95% CrI 8.22 - 11.02 days), and approximately two days shorter for putative sexual compared to non-sexual transmission. These observed differences in serial interval and incubation period estimates by transmission mode suggest that the context in which an outbreak occurs is an essential factor to consider when devising public health policies.
Authors
- Patrick Mutombo Lupola (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4541-5723)
- Andrea Torneri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4322-0770)
- Cécile Kremer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2081-7662)
- Niel Hens (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1881-0637)
- Oswaldo Gressani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4152-6159)
- Guy Mukari
- Elise De Vos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8019-4030)
- Isabel Brosius (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2227-8874)
- Sabin S. Nundu
- Christophe Van Dijck (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8010-1351)
- Placide Mbala‐Kingebeni (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1556-3570)
- Daniel Mukadi‐Bamuleka (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6836-8704)
- Laurens Liesenborghs (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5616-8548)
- Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2933-818X)
- Eugene Bangwen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2314-2258)
- Eddy Kinganda-Lusamaki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9795-0165)
- Tony Wawina-Bokalanga (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6659-0267)
- Sarah Houben
- Adrienne Amuri-Aziza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5516-0779)
- Emmanuel Hasivirwe Vakaniaki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0795-7157)
- Cris Kacita (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0227-7609)
- Yves Mujula
- Papy Munganga
- Jean Claude Tshomba
Institutions
- University of Antwerp (BE)
- Université de Montpellier (FR)
- University of Kinshasa (CD)
- National Institute of Biomedical Research (CD)
- Programme National Multisectoriel de Lutte contre le sida (CD)
- University of Goma (CD)
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR)
- Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde (BE)
- Hasselt University (BE)
- KU Leuven (BE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-12-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-66875-6
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Poxvirus research and outbreaks
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.04
Funders
- Vlaams Supercomputer Centrum
- European Commission
- Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
- Vlaamse regering
- European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership