Mpox: After COVID-19, Another Disease is Making News Worldwide

On 14 August, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).

Since January 2023, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported more than 22,000 suspect Mpox cases and more than 1,200 deaths.

Apart from DRC, the virus is also spreading to neighbouring countries like Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. Some of them have links to DRC.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, "The emergence of a new clade of Mpox, its rapid spread in eastern DRC, and the reporting of cases in several neighbouring countries are very worrying.”

No Immediate Threat to India

The Union Health Ministry of India has downplayed the likelihood of a large-scale Mpox outbreak.

According to Dr. Atul Goel, Director General of Health Services (DGHS) and Director of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the risk remains low at present and there is no immediate cause for alarm.

“There is no reason to panic, we don't think that there will be many cases,” Dr. Goel said.

There have been 30 cases of Mpox recorded in India during the previous outbreak between 2022 and 2023. Out of these 12 people came from foreign countries and the rest were also from foreign countries who were living in India. The last case of Mpox was detain March 2024

#WATCH | On mpox, DGHS & Director, NCDC, Dr Atul Goel says, "It's a zoonotic disease that is generally restricted to the continent of Africa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This year, it has moved out of Africa and the case has been detected in Sweden due to which the WHO… pic.twitter.com/J4N98RoeS6

— ANI (@ANI) August 20, 2024

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda said, “No cases of Mpox have been detected in India so far. The Government of India is taking proactive measures to prevent and control the potential spread of the disease. We are closely monitoring the situation and remains fully committed to safeguarding public health.”

Business Standards reported that the Indian government has directed airports, ports, and border authorities to stay vigilant in response to the global rise in Mpox cases.

According to reports, central hospitals such as Safdarjung, Ram Manohar Lohia, and Lady Hardinge will have facilities for isolating suspected Mpox cases.

What is Mpox?

Mpox is a viral disease caused by the Mpox virus, which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus, the same family that includes smallpox.

Despite its name, Mpox is not directly related to monkeys; the virus was first identified in laboratory monkeys in 1958, which is why it carries this name.

Scientists suspect African rodents and non-human primates (like monkeys) might harbor the virus and infect people.

The first human case was documented in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are two types of Mpox: clade I and clade II. Both clades can spread through direct contact with infected wild animals, through close contact with a person with Mpox, and through contact with contaminated materials.

Clade I usually causes a higher percentage of people with Mpox to get severely sick or die compared to clade II.

This outbreak in DRC primarily involves clade I of the Mpox virus. Although clade I Mpox occurs regularly in DRC, the current outbreak is more widespread than any previous DRC outbreak,

Key Outbreaks

Historically, Mpox has been largely confined to Central and West Africa, with occasional outbreaks in other parts of the world.

In 2003, the United States experienced its first significant outbreak linked to imported pet prairie dogs.

47 people infected with Mpox in this outbreak became ill after having contact with pet prairie dogs. The pets were infected after being housed near imported small mammals from Ghana.

However, it wasn’t until 2022 that Mpox gained widespread international attention, as it spread rapidly across multiple continents.

In May 2022, cases began to surge globally, leading the World Health Organization to declare Mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in July 2022.

According to CDC, a global outbreak of clade IIb Mpox in 2022 led to more than 95,000 cases across 115 non-endemic countries and continues to occur in the United States.

In 2024, 17 541 cases and 517 deaths have been reported from 13 African Union (AU) member countries. The number of infections is 160% higher than in 2023, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention had noted, earlier this month.

WHO Committee Chair Professor Dimie Ogoina said, “Mpox, originating in Africa, was neglected there, and later caused a global outbreak in 2022. It is time to act decisively to prevent history from repeating itself."

A WHO official clarified that Mpox is not the new COVID, as authorities know how to control its spread.

How Mpox Spreads

CDC) emphasizes that the Mpox virus can spread to anyone through close, personal contact.

The Mpox virus can be transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact with a person having an Mpox rash or scabs. The virus can also be spread through contact with the saliva of someone infected with Mpox. This includes the exchange of bodily fluids during oral, anal, or vaginal sex, or touching the genitals of an infected person.

It can also spread through respiratory droplets from prolonged face-to-face contact. Mpox can also spread through direct contact with contaminated materials from infected animals. Animal-to-human transmission of Mpox occurs from infected animals to humans from bites or scratches.

The virus can remain on surfaces and clothing, which means that indirect contact with contaminated items is another possible way of transmission.

Symptoms of Mpox

The symptoms of Mpox are similar to those of smallpox but usually milder.

According to WHO Fact Sheet on Mpox, signs and symptoms usually begin within a week but can start 1–21 days after exposure. Symptoms typically last 2–4 weeks but may last longer in someone with a weakened immune system.

Common symptoms of Mpox are:

• rash
• fever
• sore throat
• headache
• muscle aches
• back pain
• low energy
• swollen lymph nodes.

For some people, the first symptom of Mpox is a rash, while others may have different symptoms first. The rash begins as a flat sore which develops into a blister filled with liquid and may be itchy or painful.

Most people with Mpox will recover within 2–4 weeks. But children, pregnant people, and people with weak immune systems are at risk for complications from Mpox.

Prevention and Control

To help manage the symptoms and prevent spreading the infection to others, stay home and remain in your own room. Regularly wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer, especially before and after touching any sores.

When around other people, wear a mask and cover any visible lesions until your rash heals. It’s best to keep your skin dry and uncovered, except when you’re in a shared space with someone else.

Avoid touching items in shared spaces, and make sure to disinfect these areas frequently. Do not pop blisters or scratch sores, as this can slow down the healing process, spread the rash to other parts of your body, and even lead to infections.

Also, avoid shaving areas with sores until the scabs have healed and new skin has formed underneath, as shaving can spread the rash.

Treatment

Getting a Mpox vaccine can help prevent infection. The vaccine should be given within 4 days of contact with someone who has Mpox (or within up to 14 days if there are no symptoms).

It is recommended for people at high risk to get vaccinated to prevent infection with Mpox, especially during an outbreak. This includes:

• health workers at risk of exposure
• men who have sex with men
• people with multiple sex partners
• sex workers.

Read more about the vaccine, how it’s given, side effects, and where to get it at Mpox Vaccine Recommendations.