The World Health Organization (WHO) declared that an outbreak of Mpox on the African continent is a ‘public health emergency of international concern’. Also known as monkeypox, this virus is highly transmissible and has killed at least 450 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since the outbreak was declared, with cases now spreading across the world.

What is Mpox?

 Mpox is caused by the Monkeypox virus, a poxvirus like its notorious cousin, the smallpox virus, and is usually less severe. It is thought to have first originated in animals but since then has become adapted to spread from humans to humans. It occurs most often in remote villages of Africa and, annually, thousands of cases and hundreds of deaths are reported, mostly in children under 15 years of age in the DRC.

The Evolution of the Virus

 Mpox, like mumps or measles before it, divides into separate lines of evolution. Its last great outbreak was caused by the Clade II virus. This caused the 2022 public health emergency when it seemingly came out of nowhere to infect nearly 100 countries that didn’t have the virus easily circulating on their soil. The 2022 epidemic seems to have burned out rapidly because the majority of the world had Clade II vaccines. But the current outbreak is of Clade I, which is more lethal.

 A mutation in September of last year produced a new strain, Clade I B, which is now rampant. In fact, it is the ‘most dangerous strain’ to date. It is also more contagious and deadly, especially for children and young adults.

Impact of Mpox Worldwide

 Mpox: the epicentre of the outbreak has been the DRC where more than 14,500 cases, and more than 450 deaths were reported between the beginning of 2024 and the end of July. This is a 160 per cent rise in infections and a 19 per cent increase in deaths compared to 2023. Ninety-six per cent of the cases are in the DRC but the disease has spread to bordering countries where it isn’t endemic (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda).

 Vaccines and treatments are also very limited; having any access at all to Mpox vaccines or treatments in the DRC is a big problem. The potential for the spread of the disease is ‘huge’, says Bodero; the new virus might cause more severe disease and increase the current low but increasing mortality in both kids and adults.

Symptoms of Mpox

 The initial symptoms of Mpox are fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, and swollen lymph nodes. After a couple of days of fever, individuals generally develop a rash, usually starting on the face and spreading to other parts of the body, sometimes on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. These rashes can be uncomfortable, with painful lesions that develop over several days. These lesions will ulcerate and eventually form crusts or scabs as they become less painful and then progressively heal.

 In the most severe instances, the lesions can spread across the body – typically targeting the mouth, eyes and genitals – and the infection can last for up to three weeks on its own, although it can also trigger life-threatening complications.

How Does Mpox Spread?

 Mpox spreads through personal contact with an infected person, either by skin-to-skin, or sexual contact, or even by remaining in close proximity to an infected person who is breathing or talking. The virus enters through the respiratory tract, broken skin, or via the eyes, nose or mouth; it has also been linked to bodily fluids and contact with contaminated items, such as bedding, clothing or towels.

 Contact with infected animals (such as monkeys, rodents or squirrels) is another way that the virus can spread. In 2012, and again in 2022, worldwide outbreaks of Monkeypox started by sexual contact and, while the current outbreak in the DRC appears to be following a similar pattern, the virus has been found in other communities as well. 

Who is Most at Risk?

 Nearly all Mpox cases have originated among sexually active gay and bisexual men who have sex with other men, though anyone with multiple sex partners – particularly those who are having new sexual partners – is at higher risk. So are healthcare workers, family members and others who have intimate contact with someone who is ill.

 She advises that, when Mpox is circulating in a community, people avoid close contact with others and wash their hands often with soap and water. Infected patients should isolate until their lesions heal, and those who recover from Mpox should use condoms during sexual activity for 12 weeks after recovering.

How Can Mpox Be Treated?

 Mpox spread can be curbed by halting infections, and the most effective way to do that is through vaccination. The WHO recently requested that existing Mpox vaccine manufacturers provide their products for use in emergency situations in countries where they are needed most, even if the shots are not yet officially approved.

 We hope that governments are emboldened to respond quickly and in coordination with one another under the newly declared public health emergency, and that needed medical supplies and other aid can be rushed to affected areas. 

Global Health Implications

 The return of Mpox, and its transformation into a more virulent form, also emphasise the need for global vigilance and a coordinated public-health effort, since the spread of such illnesses (especially in countries with limited health infrastructure) can rapidly have international spillover effects, sometimes affecting countries beyond those that are immediately affected. The current Mpox outbreak is a reminder of the inextricable link between public-health issues and the need for a unified global response to health emergencies. 

 To conclude, Mpox is a quickly evolving virus with the potential to devastate a huge number of individuals if we do not manage to contain it. Recognising the path of transmission, the signs and symptoms, and why vaccination is crucial will certainly help us avoid a resurgence of this virus, protect public health and consequently eradicate the disease worldwide.

Sources :https://www.bbc.com/urdu/articles/c93pkzyyp52o

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