A Hidden Threat: Mpox's Silent Evolution

For years, the world believed that human mpox infections primarily stemmed from zoonotic transmission—humans contracting the virus from animals, with minimal human-to-human spread. However, shocking new research reveals that the virus had been quietly circulating among humans in Nigeria long before the 2022 global outbreak.

Groundbreaking Study Unveils the Timeline

In a groundbreaking study published in *Nature* on May 19, 2025, researchers discovered that mpox was actively transmitted among humans for eight years prior to the alarming spread observed in 2022. The genomic analysis traced the virus’s origins back to southern Nigeria, where it first emerged in August 2014, with evidence of spread to eleven states by 2017.

Warning Signs Ignored: The Need for Better Surveillance

Edyth Parker from the Kristian Andersen Lab at Scripps Research, a leading author on the paper, emphasized the missed opportunity, stating, "We could have prevented the 2022 outbreak if African nations had improved access to healthcare resources and surveillance technologies. In our interconnected world, we must address these epidemics before they escape to the Global North."

The Mystery of Genetic Mutations

Initially, the 2022 outbreak's genetic mutations led scientists to suspect a prolonged undetected circulation of the virus in Nigeria. However, a lack of genomic data left key questions unanswered—until now.

An International Effort to Uncover the Truth

To tackle this knowledge gap, lead researcher Christian Happi spearheaded a Pan-African consortium aimed at building a comprehensive mpox genomic dataset. Collaborating with researchers and public health agencies across West and Central Africa, bolstered by international partners like Scripps Research, the group produced a dataset three times larger than any previous collection.

Insights from 118 Viral Genomes

Analyzing 118 viral genomes from mpox cases in Nigeria and Cameroon between 2018 and 2023 revealed startling results. Most Nigerian samples were linked to human-to-human transmission, while all cases in Cameroon resulted from isolated zoonotic spillovers. The research indicated that mpox is no longer merely a zoonotic virus in Nigeria—it has firmly taken root as a human virus.

Geographical Connections and Ongoing Risks

The findings highlighted southern Nigeria as the central hub for human infections, with zoonotic events suggesting cross-border viral movement to Cameroon. Parker stressed the need for enhanced surveillance of wildlife and human populations in areas where these two worlds collide.

A Call for Global Health Equity

The study underscores the urgent priority for improved access to diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics across Africa. Parker encapsulated the sentiment: "Global health inequities hinder our ability to manage zoonotic and sustained human transmission. Ignoring these epidemics is not only a humanitarian issue; it paves the way for another pandemic."

In an age where pandemics can transcend borders in mere moments, the findings call for urgent action to mitigate future public health crises.