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Viral genetic clustering and transmission dynamics of the 2022 mpox outbreak in Portugal

2023; Nature Portfolio; Volume: 29; Issue: 10 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1038/s41591-023-02542-x

1546-170X

Vítor Borges, Mariana Duque, João Vieira Martins, Paula Vasconcelos, Rita Ferreira, Daniel Sobral, Ana Pelerito, Isabel Lopes de Carvalho, Maria Sofia Núncio, Maria José Borrego, Cornelius Roemer, Richard A. Neher, Megan O’Driscoll, Raquel Rocha, Sílvia Lopo, Raquel Neves, Paula Palminha, Luís Coelho, Alexandra Nunes, Joana Isidro, Miguel Pinto, João Dourado Santos, Verónica Mixão, Daniela Santos, Sílvia Duarte, Luı́s Vieira, Fátima Martins, Jorge Machado, Vítor Cabral Veríssimo, Berta Grau-Pujol, André Peralta‐Santos, José Neves, Margarida Caldeira, Mafalda Pestana, Cândida Fernandes, João Caria, Raquel Pinto, Diana Póvoas, Fernando Maltêz, Ana Isabel Sá, Mafalda Brito Salvador, Eugénio Teófilo, Miguel Rocha, Virgínia Moneti, Luís Duque, Francisco Ferreira e Silva, Teresa Baptista, Joana Vasconcelos, Sara Casanova, Kamal Mansinho, João Vaz Alves, João M. P. Alves, António Silva, Miguel Alpalhão, Cláudia Brazão, Diogo de Sousa, Paulo Filipe, Patrícia Pacheco, Francesca Peruzzu, Rita Patrocínio de Jesus, Luís Ferreira, Josefina Mendez, Sofia Jordão, Frederico Duarte, Maria João Gonçalves, Eduarda Pena, Cláudio Silva, André Rodrigues Guimarães, Margarida Tavares, Graça Freitas, Rita Cordeiro, João Paulo Gomes,

Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments

Pathogen genome sequencing during epidemics enhances our ability to identify and understand suspected clusters and investigate their relationships. Here, we combine genomic and epidemiological data of the 2022 mpox outbreak to better understand early viral spread, diversification and transmission dynamics. By sequencing 52% of the confirmed cases in Portugal, we identified the mpox virus sublineages with the highest impact on case numbers and fitted them into a global context, finding evidence that several international sublineages probably emerged or spread early in Portugal. We estimated a 62% infection reporting rate and that 1.3% of the population of men who have sex with men in Portugal were infected. We infer the critical role played by sexual networks and superspreader gatherings, such as sauna attendance, in the dissemination of mpox virus. Overall, our findings highlight genomic epidemiology as a tool for the real-time monitoring and control of mpox epidemics, and can guide future vaccine policy in a highly susceptible population.