The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health alert this week to inform health departments nationwide about the spread of a “deadly” subtype of the monkeypox virus, known as Clade I.
Clade I, distinguished as a distinct genetic grouping of the monkeypox virus, has predominantly been seen in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
There has not been reported in the United States to date but there is currently an outbreak of monkeypox in 22 out of 26 provinces of Congo.
“The virus variant is known to be more virulent. If it adapts better to human-to-human transmission, that presents a risk,” Rosamund Lewis of the WHO’s monkeypox surveillance team said.
Symptoms of Clade I look similar to those of other forms of the virus, including a widespread rash and lymphadenopathy.
