WHO says mpox cases in Congo’s epicenter where the new variant was detected may be ‘plateauing’

The World Health Organization said mpox cases in the region of Congo where a new and more infectious variant was first detected appear to be “plateauing,” even as the virus continues to increase in other regions of the country, as well as in Burundi and Uganda.

In a report Monday, the U.N. health agency said the number of mpox infections “shows a general rising trend” but that they may have plateaued in South Kivu, where the more infectious form of mpox was first identified to be spreading earlier this year among sex workers and miners in the gold mining town of Kamituga.

WHO acknowledged, however, that testing is still not widespread, making it difficult to understand how exactly the virus is spreading.

According to data from last week, Congo reported fewer than 100 laboratory-confirmed mpox cases, down from nearly 400 in July.

In recent weeks, experts say that infections appear