EU/EEA countries not concerned by new Mpox variant in DRC

In collaboration with Africa CDC and other partners, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is monitoring a worsening mpox epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) caused by a new variant of the clade I virus. Despite more than 11,000 suspected cases and approximately 450 deaths in DRC in 2024, the risk for the EU/EEA remains very low. Current vaccines and treatments are still effective, and there is no evidence that the new variant is spreading outside central Africa. The ECDC is also preparing an EU health task force to support the response to the epidemic in the DRC. Meanwhile, in the EU/EEA, cases of the less severe clade variant II are decreasing. The ECDC continues to support Member States with public health guidelines and surveillance bulletins.