Mpox, formerly called “monkeypox,” is a viral disease caused by a virus from the orthopoxvirus family. There are two major variants of the virus, called clades I and II, each comprising several subtypes. Between 2022 and 2023, one of these subtypes was responsible for a global outbreak of the disease.

In this context, the inter-state Mpox-GECIVO project was officially launched on December 22, 2025, at the Pasteur Center in Cameroon. This meeting brought together researchers, health officials, and partners involved in the project. The aim was to present the study, align expectations, and strengthen collaboration among the different stakeholders.

Despite the efforts already undertaken, many uncertainties remain surrounding mpox. Knowledge is still limited regarding its transmission, progression, the diversity of viral strains, and the actual impact of different clades on the severity of the disease.

According to Professor Jean Bisimwa Nachega, the international coordinator of the project, Mpox-GECIVO aims to better understand how the disease spreads and what its consequences are in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, and Cameroon. The study will notably allow for an estimation of the actual number of cases through rapid diagnostics, an analysis of the clinical forms of the disease, and an assessment of its severity based on patient profiles, modes of transmission, and virus variants.

In Cameroon, the project is hosted and coordinated by the Pasteur Center of Cameroon under the supervision of Professor Richard Njouom. According to him, this research will provide essential data to help health authorities improve surveillance, diagnosis, and patient care.

Field activities will involve a multidisciplinary team composed of researchers, community health workers, laboratory technicians, clinicians, and data specialists. The investigations will take place in several localities in the Centre, North-West, and South-West regions, where cases of mpox have already been reported.

Adopting a ‘One Health’ approach, the project also involves the livestock, fisheries, and animal industries sectors, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health. The social aspect of the study will be conducted by anthropologist Mousande Fadimatou from the Catholic University of Central Africa in Yaoundé, while Doctors Jules Tchatchueng and Djuicy Delia, from the Pasteur Center in Cameroon, will oversee data management and the conduct of clinical studies.

As a reminder, in August 2024, the World Health Organization declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern, in light of the increase in cases in Africa, the emergence of a sexually transmissible variant, and the rise in severe forms, particularly among children. In Cameroon, the two main clades of the virus are currently circulating, separated by the Sanaga River.