Emerging Infectious Diseases (Jun 2016)

Extended Human-to-Human Transmission during a Monkeypox Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

  • Leisha Diane Nolen,
  • Lynda Osadebe,
  • Jacques Katomba,
  • Jacques Likofata,
  • Daniel Mukadi,
  • Benjamin Monroe,
  • Jeffrey B. Doty,
  • Christine Marie Hughes,
  • Joelle Kabamba,
  • Jean Malekani,
  • Pierre Lokwa Bomponda,
  • Jules Inonga Lokota,
  • Marcel Pie Balilo,
  • Toutou Likafi,
  • Robert Shongo Lushima,
  • Benoit Kebela Ilunga,
  • Frida Nkawa,
  • Elisabeth Pukuta,
  • Stomy Karhemere,
  • Jean-Jacques Muyembe Tamfum,
  • Beatrice Nguete,
  • Emile Okitolonda Wemakoy,
  • Andrea M. McCollum,
  • Mary G. Reynolds

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2206.150579
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 22, no. 6
pp. 1014 – 1021

Abstract

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A >600% increase in monkeypox cases occurred in the Bokungu Health Zone of the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the second half of 2013; this increase prompted an outbreak investigation. A total of 104 possible cases were reported from this health zone; among 60 suspected cases that were tested, 50 (48.1%) cases were confirmed by laboratory testing, and 10 (9.6%) tested negative for monkeypox virus (MPXV) infection. The household attack rate (i.e., rate of persons living with an infected person that develop symptoms of MPXV infection) was 50%. Nine families showed >1 transmission event, and >6 transmission events occurred within this health zone. Mean incubation period was 8 days (range 4–14 days). The high attack rate and transmission observed in this study reinforce the importance of surveillance and rapid identification of monkeypox cases. Community education and training are needed to prevent transmission of MPXV infection during outbreaks.

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