Active Infection & Immunity Genetics & Molecular Biology

Mpox Genomics, Epidemiology, Clinical, Immunological, and Virological Outcomes: A Multi-Country Cohort Study in Africa (Mpox-GECIVO Africa)

Funder Wellcome Charity-funded
Recipient organisation National Institute of Biomedical Research Source-published name: Institut National de Recherche Biomedicale
Funding £1.7M
Period Dec 2024 — Nov 2027

In plain English

AI plain-English summary

The World Health Organization declared mpox a global emergency in August 2024 as a new, sexually transmissible strain (Clade Ib) drove rising cases and deaths across 14 African countries, hitting children especially hard. Researchers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, and Nigeria are now launching a multi-country study to fill critical gaps in understanding how the virus spreads, evolves, and affects different groups. The team will use rapid molecular tests to find cases in communities—not just hospitals—to get a truer picture of infection rates. They will track patients’ symptoms and outcomes by age, transmission route, and viral clade, and sequence viral genomes to map how Clade I and II strains are changing and moving. This is fundamental science with immediate practical stakes: without knowing which clades cause the worst disease, how they transmit, or where they are evolving, public health responses remain guesswork. If successful, the findings will directly guide vaccination campaigns, treatment protocols, and containment strategies across Africa—decisions that currently rely on incomplete data from a fast-moving outbreak.

View original technical description
On August 14, 2024, the World Health Organization declared mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern due to rising cases in Africa, the emergence of the sexually transmissible Clade Ib, and increased morbidity and mortality, especially among children. By September 2024, 14 African countries were facing mpox outbreaks involving both Clade I and II strains. However, critical gaps remain in understanding the epidemiology, transmission dynamics, genomic diversity, and natural history of mpox, particularly regarding the impact of different viral clades. Our study aims to investigate factors influencing MPXV transmission and outcomes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Cameroon, and Nigeria to inform mpox control efforts. The specific aims are: 1)To estimate mpox incidence through community-based case- finding using rapid molecular diagnostics. 2)To characterize clinical features, outcomes, and severity by socio-demographics, transmission route, and viral clade in MPXV-PCR+ patients. 3) To conduct genomic sequencing to track viral evolution and clade-specific transmission dynamics. 4) To raise awareness and disseminate information to understand factors associated with MPXV infection. These outcomes will help address key knowledge gaps and guide strategies for ongoing mpox prevention and control in Africa.

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Researchers

Placide Mbala (EPMC Awardee)

Related Research

Grants with similar aims, by meaning.

Advancing mpox outbreak control in Central Africa through epidemiological modelling, data-driven insights, and capacity strengthening
Deciphering host genetics and viral determinants of MPOX epidemiology in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Expanding a prospective, clinical trial examining the immune response of participants receiving Modified Vaccinia Ankara vaccine to Africa.
Implementing wastewater and environmental surveillance for Mpox in Sub-Saharan Africa
Addressing Critical Gaps in mpox epidemiology in DRC - The MOVIE and TRACE studies

Original classification

Discretionary Award

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