Illustration of mpox virus
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the ongoing MPOX (formerly known as monkeypox) outbreak in Central and West Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. This is the second time in two years that the disease has spread sufficiently to prompt a WHO declaration. On August 15, Swedish health authorities confirmed the first cases of infection outside of Africa with the MPOX strain currently causing the outbreak.
What is mpox?
Mpox is an infectious disease caused by a virus in the same family as the virus that causes smallpox. It spreads regularly among animals such as rodents and monkeys in Central and West Africa, but occasionally infects humans, causing small-scale epidemics.
There are two distinct lineages of mpox. Lineage I and Lineage IILineage I is associated with more severe disease and a higher risk of death. A subtype of lineage I, lineage Ib, is driving the current epidemic, while the 2022 and 2023 global MPOX epidemics were driven by a lineage II subtype.
So far, there is no evidence to suggest that lineage Ib is more dangerous than the original lineage I strains, he said. Jonas Alvarez This was said in a statement by the UK’s Pirbright Institute.
How many cases of MPOX were there in 2024?
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Reported on August 13th There are more than 17,000 suspected cases across the continent, “and this is just the tip of the iceberg, given the many weaknesses in surveillance, testing and contact tracing,” the agency said in a statement.
According to the WHO, the Democratic Republic of Congo alone has reported 15,664 cases and 537 deaths so far — more than the entire 2023 total. statement WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on August 15.
Where was mpox found?
The current outbreak began in a small mining town in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). MPOX variants have now spread to at least 11 other African countries, including four where MPOX had not previously been reported (Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda), and one patient in Sweden has also been found to have MPOX.
What is the survival rate for mpox?
More than 99.9 percent of people survive infection with lineage II, but up to 10 percent of MPOX outbreaks caused by lineage I die. Children, immunocompromised individuals, and pregnant women are particularly susceptible to severe illness.
What are the symptoms of MPOX?
The first symptom of MPOX is usually a rash, which begins as flat sores that later develop into itchy, painful blisters. The rash begins on the face and then spreads throughout the body, including the hands and feet. Lesions may also appear inside the mouth, genitals, and anus.
The rash or lesions usually last for 2-4 weeks and are often accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle and back pain, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. Symptoms usually appear within a week of exposure to the virus, but can appear anywhere from 1 to 21 days after exposure. However, some people can be infected with the virus without experiencing any symptoms.
How does mpox spread?
Mpox is transmitted through close contact with a person who has the disease. Usually, this occurs through skin-to-skin contact, such as sexual intercourse, kissing, or touching. The virus can also be transmitted through respiratory droplets or contact with contaminated materials, such as sheets, other linens, and sharp objects, such as needles. You remain infectious until all wounds have healed.
Mpox is spread through contact with infected animals via bite or scratch, or when people hunt or eat the animals.
Young people and children are being hit hardest by this outbreak, a trend not seen in the 2022-2023 outbreak. In some provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, children under the age of 15 are the most affected. 69% of suspected cases.
How is mpox treated?
Treatment consists mainly of managing symptoms and preventing complications such as secondary infections. Some of the antiviral drugs developed to treat smallpox have also been used to treat smallpox in the past. However, recent trials of the antiviral drug tecovirimat, used in previous outbreaks, have shown that Found to be ineffective against clade I virusesPeople with MPOX should self-isolate, wear a mask and avoid scratching wounds, which can prevent wounds from healing and increase the risk of secondary infections, which can spread to other parts of the body.
Is there an MPOX vaccine?
The mpox vaccine provides maximum protection when given in two doses. Smallpox vaccines are also known to protect against mpox, but it is not clear whether any of these vaccines are effective against the new mpox variants.
It is only recommended that people get vaccinated if they are at high risk of contracting MPOX. For people in areas not affected by the current outbreak, the risk remains very low.
African countries currently have little to no vaccine supplies, but estimates say the region needs 10 million doses. Jimmy Whitworth Researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said in a statement.
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