Study Reveals Extensive Human Transmission of Mpox in West Africa Before 2022 Outbreak

A recent genomic study has unveiled significant human transmission of the mpox virus in West Africa, specifically in Nigeria, occurring several years prior to the global outbreak in 2022. The comprehensive analysis, published in Nature, emphasizes the urgent need for enhanced surveillance and healthcare resources in the region to mitigate future pandemics.

Historically, mpox infections have primarily been associated with zoonotic transmission, where the virus is transferred from animals to humans, typically resulting in limited human-to-human spread. However, the 2022 outbreak marked a shift, as the virus began to circulate widely among human populations.

The research team, part of a Pan-African consortium, gathered and analyzed a genomic dataset that is approximately three times larger than any previous records related to mpox. The study indicates that the virus was actively spreading among humans in Nigeria for eight years prior to its recognition as a global health threat. Specifically, the researchers traced the virus's origins back to southern Nigeria in August 2014, with the first human cases emerging in 2017.

According to the findings, the majority of the mpox cases in Nigeria were attributed to human-to-human transmission, while cases in Cameroon were linked to isolated zoonotic spillover events. This has led to a reclassification of mpox as not merely a zoonotic virus in Nigeria but as a significant human health concern.

The analysis also revealed that the genetic diversity of the virus in Nigeria suggested it had been circulating longer than previously understood, as indicated by the presence of numerous genetic mutations. The study's authors stress that improved access to therapeutics, vaccines, and surveillance technologies in Africa could have potentially averted the widespread outbreak.

The senior author of the study highlighted the need for a better understanding of the virus's transmission dynamics and the importance of comprehensive wildlife and human surveillance, particularly in regions where human populations interact closely with wildlife.

The research underscores the critical need for equitable access to healthcare resources to combat both zoonotic and sustained human transmission of infectious diseases. Addressing global health disparities is essential not only for the welfare of affected regions but also for preventing future pandemics that could affect populations worldwide.