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A study by CUNY SPH doctoral student Raoul Kamadjeu provides important new data on how mpox, especially the Clade Ib strain, transmits within households.
For the study, Kamadjeu and colleagues closely followed families in Burundi exposed to confirmed mpox cases, analyzing the patterns and risks of the virus spreading from one member to others through close contact and shared living conditions.
Mpox, which has seen significant outbreaks since 2022, is mainly transmitted through direct physical contact, including touching skin lesions, bodily fluids, bedding, and clothing. The study found that the risk of household spread is highest during the first two weeks after the initial family member becomes sick.
The researchers found that most transmission within household involved children under the age of 15, likely due to both close interactions and caregiving activities that increase exposure to the virus.
“Intrahousehold transmission of Clade Ib mpox in Burundi was limited, and unlikely to sustain a broader community spread,” says Kamadjeu. “The involvement of children in transmission chains within the household underscores their vulnerability, emphasizing the need for accurate household investigation, early detection, and strategies to protect them. Our findings support emerging evidence that extra-household transmission, particularly among adults, probably drives community spread and is potentially a source of household introduction.”
The authors recommend a dual approach to mpox response, combining household-based interventions that prioritize early detection, protection for children, and targeted interventions focused on adults and high-risk groups that aim to reduce transmission through close physical contact, including reducing transmission through sexual contact.
