New pandemic looms as threatening virus variant emerges; travel restrictions introduced

Shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic, monkeypox emerged as another global health threat, first causing a worldwide outbreak in 2022. Now, health officials warn the virus is staging a comeback—spreading rapidly, particularly among younger people. Meanwhile, a more dangerous strain is gaining ground in Africa, although it is currently spreading at a slower pace than the European variant.

Another pandemic on the horizon

Monkeypox is among the most concerning diseases of our time, especially in the wake of the relatively recent pandemic. Like all rapidly mutating viruses, it has developed several variants. The strain responsible for the outbreaks in the United States and Europe in 2022 and 2023 is known as clade IIb. This variant is once again spreading quickly across Europe, largely fuelled by the summer festival season and other large gatherings, especially in cities—most notably in Germany.

As a result, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an international emergency on Wednesday. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has confirmed that the virus is accelerating. Tourists are already experiencing the impact: China has tightened its border controls, while Sweden, the UK, and Germany have all reported rising case numbers. At present, the illness is affecting primarily those aged 15 to 34. Symptoms include high fever, skin lesions (sometimes in sensitive areas), rashes, and body aches, according to economx.hu. THIS article also includes an image showing typical skin rashes.

What’s happening in Africa?

The situation in Africa is even more alarming. In several central African countries, including Kenya, a different variant—known as clade Ib—is circulating. This strain tends to cause more severe illness and, according to experts, has a fatality rate of about one in every hundred cases. The local outlet The Eastleigh Voice reports that the variant is now present in 22 countries, causing 300 confirmed infections and five deaths so far. The first case was detected in 2024, a time when the world was still dealing with the broader effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to npr.org, Africa has recorded 97,000 infections and 600 deaths to date.

Patrick Otim, programme manager for emergency response at the WHO Regional Office for Africa, reported that in the past year, 28 countries have been affected, with over 174,000 suspected and nearly 50,000 confirmed cases, based on the latest WHO data. The virus has claimed about 240 lives, according to the Turkish Anadolu News Agency, highlighting how outbreaks continue to pose serious threats even as the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

People reluctant to seek medical care

However, these figures may not capture the full extent of the outbreak. Monkeypox can be transmitted sexually, making it more common among sex workers and their clients. Owing to stigma, many people avoid seeking medical care. Another challenge is that many of the affected African countries—such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi—are low-income nations with underdeveloped healthcare systems, many of which were already strained by the pandemic. Experts warn that without effective intervention soon, a global outbreak of this variant is likely. Additionally, Trump cut funding to related aid programmes have further complicated the response.

This variant of monkeypox has an incubation period of five to 21 days, during which infected individuals show no symptoms—making early detection extremely difficult.

Some good news

There is, however, some reason for optimism: a vaccine already exists for the IIb variant. According to economx.hu, Danish vaccine manufacturer Bavarian Nordic has 500,000 doses ready and could produce up to 10 million more within the year. Individuals can also take precautions: avoiding contact with others’ skin lesions or rashes, always using a personal towel in public spaces such as pools, saunas, gyms, and locker rooms, and, since the disease can spread sexually, using condoms for additional protection. The lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic have also improved public awareness about hygiene and vaccination, which could help curb the spread of monkeypox.

According to Anadolu, over three million vaccine doses—almost half of the target—have been delivered; more than 951,000 doses have already been administered; and around 900,000 people have received at least one dose, according to WHO data.

Ivory Coast has successfully brought its outbreak under control, with 42 days passing without new cases, while Angola, Gabon, Mauritius, and Zimbabwe have gone more than 90 days without any newly confirmed cases. Otim stated that 13 of the 22 countries with active transmission have vaccine deployment plans, and eight are already vaccinating high-risk groups and contacts.

Monkeypox was first identified in the 1950s and began spreading to humans in the 1970s.

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