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Research Project: Viral Ecology of Henipaviruses in Endemic Settings and Intervention Strategies to Prevent their Spread to Domestic Animals

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Title: First imported cases of MPXFV Clad Ib in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Author
item MUKADI-BAMULEKA, DANIEL - University Of Kinshasa
item KINGANDA-LUSAMAKI, EDDY - Institute National Research Biomedical
item MULOPO-MUKANYA, NOELLA - Institute National Research Biomedical
item AMURI-AZIZA, ADRIENNE - Institute National Research Biomedical
item O'TOOLE, AINE - University Of Edinburgh
item MODADRA-MADAKPA, BRIGITTE - Institute National Research Biomedical
item MUTOMBO NDONGALA, GUY - Provincial Health Division North Kivu
item HASIVIRWE VAKANIAKI, EMMANUEL - Institute National Research Biomedical
item MERRITT, SYDNEY - University Of California (UCLA)
item KACITA, CRIS - Ministry Of Public Health
item LUBAMBO MABOKO, GASTON - Provincial Health Division North Kivu
item MAKANGARA-CIGOLO, JEAN-CLAUDE - University Of Kinshasa
item NGIMBA, MICHEL - Institute National Research Biomedical
item LOKILO, EMMANUEL - Institute National Research Biomedical
item PUKUTA-SIMBU, ELISABETH - Institute National Research Biomedical
item LUAKANDA, GRADI - Institute National Research Biomedical
item BODISA-MATAMU, TAVIA - Institute National Research Biomedical
item PALUKU KALIMULI, ZEPHANIE - Institute National Research Biomedical
item AKIL-BANDALI, PRINCE - Institute National Research Biomedical
item KAVIRA, SIFA - Institute National Research Biomedical
item JANSEN, DAAN - Institute Of Tropical Medicine
item KAVIRA KAMALIRO, ADELE - Institute National Research Biomedical
item MUHINDO-MILONDE, EMILE - Institute National Research Biomedical
item MUFUNGIZI, JERIEL - Institute National Research Biomedical
item BIRINDWA HAMISI, YVES - Institute National Research Biomedical
item KAVUNGA, HUGO - Institute National Research Biomedical
item TSHIANI, OLIVIER - Institute National Research Biomedical
item NUNDU, SABIN - Institute National Research Biomedical
item LIESENBORGHS, LAURENS - Institute Of Tropical Medicine
item HOFF, NICOLE - University Of California (UCLA)
item NACHEGA, JEAN - University Of Pittsburgh
item SHONGO, ROBERT - Ministry Of Public Health
item AYOUBA, AHIDJO - University Of Montpellier
item PILAROWSKI, GENAY - Chan Zuckerberg Biohub
item KAKULE MANGOLOPA, ALAIN - World Health Organization (WHO) - Switzerland
item KIUKA EBONDO, AMOS - World Health Organization (WHO) - Switzerland
item LOW, NICOLA - University Of Bern
item SHAW, SOURADET - University Of Manitoba
item WILKINSON, SAM - University Of Birmingham
item KIFLE TESSEMA, SOFONIAS - Africa Center For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC)
item SUBISSI, LORENZO - World Health Organization (WHO) - Switzerland
item DELAPORTE, ERIC - University Of Montpellier
item VERCAUTEREN, KOEN - Institute Of Tropical Medicine
item WAWINA-BOKALANGA, TONY - University Of Kinshasa
item RIMOIN, ANNE - University Of California (UCLA)
item PEETERS, MARTINE - University Of Montpellier
item LOMAN, NICHOLAS - University Of Birmingham
item RAMBAUT, ANDREW - University Of Montpellier
item MUYEMBE-TAMFUM, JEAN-JAQUES - Institute National Research Biomedical
item Hensley, Lisa
item KINDRACHUK, JASON - University Of Manitoba
item MBALA-KINGEBENI, PLACIDE - University Of Kinshasa
item AHUKA-MUNDEKE, STEVE - University Of Kinshasa

Submitted to: Communications Medicine
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/10/2025
Publication Date: 11/15/2025
Citation: Mukadi-Bamuleka, D., Kinganda-Lusamaki, E., Mulopo-Mukanya, N., Amuri-Aziza, A., O'Toole, A., Modadra-Madakpa, B., Mutombo Ndongala, G., Hasivirwe Vakaniaki, E., Merritt, S., Kacita, C., Lubambo Maboko, G., Makangara-Cigolo, J., Ngimba, M., Lokilo, E., Pukuta-Simbu, E., Luakanda, G., Bodisa-Matamu, T., Paluku Kalimuli, Z., Akil-Bandali, P., Kavira, S., Jansen, D., Kavira Kamaliro, A., Muhindo-Milonde, E., Mufungizi, J., Birindwa Hamisi, Y., Kavunga, H., Tshiani, O., Nundu, S.S., Liesenborghs, L., Hoff, N.A., Nachega, J., Shongo, R., Ayouba, A., Pilarowski, G., Kakule Mangolopa, A., Kiuka Ebondo, A., Low, N., Shaw, S.Y., Wilkinson, S., Kifle Tessema, S., Subissi, L., Delaporte, E., Vercauteren, K., Wawina-Bokalanga, T., Rimoin, A.W., Peeters, M., Loman, N., Rambaut, A., Muyembe-Tamfum, J., Hensley, L.E., Kindrachuk, J., Mbala-Kingebeni, P., Ahuka-Mundeke, S. 2025. First imported cases of MPXFV Clad Ib in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Communications Medicine. 5. Article 496. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-01203-z.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-01203-z

Interpretive Summary: Mpox, the disease caused by the mpox virus (MPXV), is endemic and widespread in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Historically, mpox infections have been isolated to rural, self-limiting clusters driven by animal-to-human transmission of clade I MPXV. However, recently, Clade I MPXV has been subdivided into two distinct subclades, Ia and Ib. These two subclades are different in their genetic signature, and also primary transmission mode: subclade Ib has been shown to transmit between humans. We report the first cases of Mpox subclade Ib in Goma, North Kivu Province, DRC. This is specifically of interest due to the evidence of subclade Ib among internally displaced persons in Mudja Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, as well as evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission. Further sequencing evidence demonstrates APOBEC3 driven mutations of the virus among those sampled cases.

Technical Abstract: The ongoing national mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has resulted in more than 30,000 suspected cases in the country from January 2023 to August 2024. While these historic case totals have been driven by primarily by zoonosis, the emergence of Clade Ib monkeypox virus (MPXV), which is connected to more sustained human-to-human transmission, has been associated with increasing public health impacts in eastern DRC. First identified in South Kivu province, Clade Ib MPXV has been identified in multiple non-endemic East African countries for the first time. In DRC, there have been concerns over broader Clade Ib expansion in the country that could further complicate containment and mitigation responses. Here, we report the first introductions of Clade Ib into North Kivu province, including within internal displacement camps, with suspected close contact transmission that includes non-intimate contacts and children. These findings demonstrate that mpox case investigations and community messaging campaigns should include considerations for non-sexual contact-mediated transmission of Clade Ib that includes children under 15 years.