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Epidemiological characteristics and vaccination impact scenario modelling of concurrent Clade I mpox outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi

McCabe, R.; Knock, E. S.; Halliday, A.; Cox, V. M.; Olivera Mesa, D.; Chopra, K.; Ajong, B.; Bizimana, J.-C.; Kalonji, T.; Kamatari, O.; Leng, T.; Maddren, R.; Mavoko, H. M.; Mbala, P.; Morel, G.; Nkengurutse, L.; Nsavyimana, O.; Nyandwi, J.; Parchani, K.; Pham, A.; Rawson, T.; Shaw, A.; Whittaker, C.; Ghani, A. C.; Ferguson, N. M.; Niyukuri, D.; Whittles, L. K.

2026-02-27 public and global health
10.64898/2026.02.24.26346883 medRxiv
Show abstract

In 2024, mpox cases surged in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with cross-border spread to Burundi. We developed a transmission-dynamic model calibrated against surveillance data to understand drivers in enzootic (Clade Ia) and non-enzootic (Clade Ib) areas, and the potential impact of vaccination. In non-enzootic areas we estimated that 58-84% of transmission occurred within sexual networks. MVA-BN vaccination of sex workers could have averted 91% (95% CrI 81%-98%) of infections in Sud Kivu (DRC) but only 35% (95% CrI 26%-47%) in Bujumbura (Burundi), due to later outbreak detection. In historically enzootic Equateur (DRC), ongoing zoonotic spillover best explained sustained incidence. There, pledged Lc18m8 vaccines could have averted 42% (95% CrI 40%-46%) of infections; prioritising children improved impact. Across all settings, doubling vaccine coverage by using a single dose of MVA-BN outperformed two-dose strategies. Timely detection and tailored vaccination strategies are critical to reducing mpox burden.

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