As the impact of the Covid19 pandemic continues globally, a concerning announcement has come from the World Health Organization (WHO). This time, the threat is named the 'M flower' virus. In a statement released, the WHO reported that cases of the 'clade 1b variant' of the M flower virus have spread beyond Africa. The WHO informed that the variant has been found in individuals with no recent travel history in Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the USA.
In its latest report, the WHO addressed the cases of M flower disease. The WHO, which reported that the circulation of the virus's subtypes continues, noted that if the pandemic is not swiftly brought under control, the spread of the virus will persist. The World Health Organization, expressing that the 'clade 1b' variant of the M flower virus has spread beyond Africa, emphasized that cases have been encountered in individuals without recent travel connections in Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the USA.
According to the latest report by the World Health Organization, 42 countries reported 3,135 cases of M flower and 12 deaths in September 2025. It was highlighted that 80% of these cases were identified in the African region.
Over the past six weeks, the transmission has been ongoing, with 2,862 confirmed cases in 17 African countries and 17 fatalities.
Monkeypox (MPox) is a viral zoonotic disease that emerges in the tropical rainforests of Central and West Africa. The disease was first discovered in 1958 following an outbreak of a pox-like illness in laboratory monkey colonies, hence the name 'monkeypox'.
There are two genetic types of the monkeypox virus, known as 'clade 1 and clade 2'. The 'clade 2' type, which is typically seen in Central and East Africa, leads to more severe diseases and death. On the other hand, the 'Clade 1' type, which is native to West Africa and results in a milder form of monkeypox, was responsible for the outbreak in 2022.