Do Monkeypox Exposures Vary by Ethnicity? Comparison of Aka and Bantu Suspected Monkeypox Cases

In 2017, a monkeypox outbreak occurred in Likouala Department, Republic of the Congo. Many of the affected individuals were of Aka ethnicity, hunter-gatherers indigenous to Central Africa who have worse health outcomes in comparison with other forest-dwelling peoples. To test the hypothesis that Aka...

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Published inThe American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene Vol. 102; no. 1; pp. 202 - 205
Main Authors Guagliardo, Sarah Anne J, Doshi, Reena H, Reynolds, Mary G, Dzabatou-Babeaux, Angelie, Ndakala, Nestor, Moses, Cynthia, McCollum, Andrea M, Petersen, Brett W
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Institute of Tropical Medicine 01.01.2020
The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Subjects
Adult
Animals
Congo - epidemiology
Disease Outbreaks
Ethnicity
Female
Health surveillance
Humans
Male
Monkeypox
Mpox (monkeypox) - epidemiology
Mpox (monkeypox) - ethnology
Risk Factors
Smallpox
Viral infections
Zoonoses
Congo
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Summary:In 2017, a monkeypox outbreak occurred in Likouala Department, Republic of the Congo. Many of the affected individuals were of Aka ethnicity, hunter-gatherers indigenous to Central Africa who have worse health outcomes in comparison with other forest-dwelling peoples. To test the hypothesis that Aka people have different risk factors for monkeypox, we analyzed questionnaire data for 39 suspected cases, comparing Aka and Bantu groups. Aka people were more likely to touch animal urine/feces, find dead animals in/around the home, eat an animal that was found dead, or to have been scratched or bitten by an animal ( < 0.05, all variables). They were also more likely to visit the forest ≥ once/week, sleep outside, or sleep on the ground ( < 0.001, all variables), providing opportunities for contact with monkeypox reservoirs during the night. The Aka and possibly other vulnerable groups may warrant special attention during educational and health promotion programs.
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Authors’ addresses: Sarah Anne J. Guagliardo, Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, and Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, E-mail: ywc2@cdc.gov. Reena H. Doshi, Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, and Division of Global HIV and Tuberculosis, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, E-mail: hqo3@cdc.gov. Mary G. Reynolds, Andrea M. McCollum, and Brett W. Petersen, Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, E-mails: nzr6@cdc.gov, azv4@cdc.gov, and ige3@cdc.gov. Angelie Dzabatou-Babeaux, Ministry of Health, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, E-mail: dzabatoubab@gmail.com. Nestor Ndakala, Field Epidemiology Training Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, E-mail: drnestndakala@gmail.com. Cynthia Moses, International Communication and Education Fund, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, E-mail: cyn@incef.org.
Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors’ affiliated institutions.
ISSN:0002-9637
1476-1645
DOI:10.4269/ajtmh.19-0457