WHO says mpox cases in Congo's epicenter where the new variant was detected may be 'plateauing'

LONDON (AP) — The World Health Organization said mpox cases in the region of Congo where a new and more infectious variant was first detected appear to be “plateauing,” even as the virus continues to increase in other regions of the country, as well as in Burundi and Uganda. In a report Monday, the U.N.

health agency said the number of mpox infections “shows a general rising trend” but that they may have plateaued in South Kivu, where the more infectious form of mpox was first identified to be spreading earlier this year among in the gold mining town of . WHO acknowledged, however, that testing is still not widespread, making it difficult to understand how exactly the virus is spreading. According to data from last week, Congo reported fewer than 100 laboratory-confirmed mpox cases, down from nearly 400 in July.

In recent weeks, experts say that infections appear to be stabalizing, offering a . So far, about 50,000 people in Congo have been immunized against mpox; the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 3 million vaccines are needed to stop the outbreak. WHO said the mpox outbreak in Burundi is also being driven by the newer variant, which causes less severe symptoms — meaning people who are infectious may not realize they are spreading it.

In the last two weeks, Burundi has reported more than 200 new mpox cases every week, mostly in children and young adults. In Uganda, which reported 100 new cases last week, WHO said the virus is spre.