(ANSA) – ROME, AUGUST 19 – The most aggressive subtype of monkeypox, or Mpox, is Clade I, originating in the Democratic Republic of Congo and capable of evolving more rapidly than the Clade II subtype. This is indicated by the Italian research presented to the journal The Lancet Infectious Disease and conducted by the Medical Statistics and Molecular Epidemiology Unit of the Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, with Francesco Branda and Massimo Ciccozzi, together with Giancarlo Ceccarelli of the Policlinico Umberto I of Rome, Antonello Maruotti of the Libera Università Maria Ss Assunta and Fabio Scarpa of the University of Sassari.
Clade I is the most lethal, with an estimated mortality rate of around 10%, for decades it has been endemic in Central Africa, particularly in the Congo basin, and has only now left Africa; it is characterized by a very slow rate of evolution and the presence, in its genome, of very ancient stable traits.
The Clade II subtype, endemic in West Africa, is much less aggressive, with a mortality rate of less than 1%. Due to these characteristics, Clade II is the most widespread subtype and has long managed to spread outside Africa.
The authors of the research note that “it is crucial to continue monitoring genomes to assess the composition and genetic variability of new cases, in order to place them in a broader context and follow their evolution in real time.
This – they note – will help ensure preparedness for the containment and management of the problem. In addition, a more complete vision will allow the development of predictive models”.
The researchers also note that “the experiences of past epidemics, including Ebola, COVID-19 and the 2022 Mpox outbreak, offer crucial lessons that must not be forgotten. These crises have highlighted the importance of timely intervention, a strong health infrastructure and international collaboration. The global community – they note – must unite in solidarity, recognizing that infectious diseases do not respect borders and that a threat to one region is a threat to all”. (ANSA).
2024-08-19 18:52:31