Countries should act faster to curb the spread of mpox

Mpox is spreading. A new strain of this viral disease—which is easier to transmit than older ones and appears to be more deadly—has gripped the Democratic Republic of Congo throughout the year. Now it has reached other parts of central and eastern Africa, and is starting to appear elsewhere. It is likely to go far, carried by international travellers. According to Airfinity, a health-data firm, Dubai and London are at greatest risk of importing the new strain, known as clade 1b.