Whole-genome sequencing of mpox virus in South Kivu, 2023-2024

The hMPXV (formerly known as Monkeypox virus) is a double-stranded DNA virus in the Poxviridae family and Orthopoxvirus genus. The first human case was documented in a child in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 1970. Since then, sporadic outbreaks have occurred, increasing in frequency, particularly with cross-border travel within endemic regions. In 2022, the WHO declared a multi-country outbreak of hMPXV (Clade IIB), predominantly affecting Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) communities, though cases were also reported among others with close contact with infected individuals. Beginning in 2023, the DRC has experienced a marked surge in suspected hMPXV cases, reaching record numbers and spreading to new geographic areas. Despite the urgency, only limited genomic data has been made available; with the limited information indicating the DRC outbreak is likely due to Clade I viruses (Kibungu et al., 2024). Given the outbreak's expansion and potential epidemiological shifts, comprehensive sequence information on circulating strains is essential. To address this, a whole-genome sequencing training using Nanopore technology was conducted in Rwanda, equipping local scientists from Rwanda and DRC with the skills for both wet-lab and bioinformatic analyses. Here, we present sequence data from recent hMPXV cases in South Kivu, DRC.