Mpox: What You Need to Know About the Latest Public Health Emergency
But what is it, where did it originate from, and how can the world deal with the threat, which unavoidably invokes memories of previous pandemics such as COVID-19 and the early spread of HIV infections?
Here’s what you should know.
What is mpox?
Formerly known as monkeypox, the viral disease can spread between people, primarily through personal contact, and infrequently from the environment to humans via objects and surfaces touched by an infected person.
According to the WHO, mpox first appeared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970 and was neglected there.
“It is time to act decisively to prevent history from repeating itself,” stated Dimie Ogoina, chair of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee, which advises WHO on such issues.
The infectious disease, which was endemic in central and west Africa, later produced a global outbreak in 2022, prompting a WHO public health emergency in July as it spread across multiple countries.
Following a series of meetings with global experts, WHO has adopted the new preferred name “mpox” as a synonym for monkey pox. Find out more about the ruling here.
What exactly are the symptoms?
Common mpox symptoms include a two to four-week rash that may be preceded or followed by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue, and enlarged lymph nodes.
The rash resembles blisters and can appear on the face, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, groin, genital and/or anal regions, mouth, throat, and eyes. The number of sores can vary from one to several thousand.
People with mpox are considered infectious until all of their blisters have crusted over, the scabs have dropped off, a new layer of skin has developed beneath, and all lesions on the eyes and body have healed. Typically, it takes two to four weeks.
According to reports, those who have had mpox can become infected again.
People with severe mpox may require hospitalization, supportive care, and antiviral medications to decrease the severity of the lesions and shorten the healing time.
How does mpox spread?
Human to Human: Touching, sex, chatting, or breathing close to someone with mpox can all produce dangerous respiratory particles, but WHO says more research is needed to understand how the virus spreads during epidemics in various situations and environments.
Scientists know that the virus can survive for some time on clothing, bedding, towels, furniture, electronics, and surfaces that have been handled by a person with mpox. Others who come into contact with these materials may become infected if they do not wash their hands before contacting their eyes, nose, or mouth.
The virus can also be transmitted to the fetus during pregnancy, during or after birth by skin-to-skin contact, or through intimate contact between a parent with mpox and an infant or kid.
Although obtaining mpox from an asymptomatic person has been documented, there is still little evidence on whether the virus may be transmitted from someone who has the virus before they develop symptoms or after their lesions heal.
Humans to animals: Because many kinds of animals are known to be sensitive to the virus, the virus has the potential to spread from humans to animals in a variety of contexts.
People who have been diagnosed with or think they have mpox should avoid close physical contact with animals, especially pets such as cats, dogs, hamsters, and gerbils, livestock, and wildlife.
Animals to humans: Anyone who has physical contact with an animal that possesses the virus, such as a monkey or a terrestrial rodent like a tree squirrel, may have mpox. Such exposure can occur as a result of bites or scratches, as well as during activities like hunting, skinning, trapping, or meal preparation. The virus can also be transmitted through eating tainted meat that has not been completely cooked.
Could it be fatal?
Yes, for a small minority. Between 0.1 and 10% of those afflicted with mumps have died.
According to the UN health agency, fatality rates in different settings might vary due to a variety of circumstances, including access to health care and underlying immunosuppression, as well as undiagnosed or advanced HIV.
In most cases, mpox symptoms resolve on their own within a few weeks with supportive care, such as pain or fever medication; nevertheless, in rare cases, the sickness can be severe, leading to complications and death.
Newborn newborns, children, pregnant women, and those with preexisting immune weaknesses, such as those caused by advanced HIV, may be more vulnerable to severe mpox illness and mortality.
Is there a vaccination?
Yes. Several vaccines against mumps are recommended by the United Nations’ health organization. However, mass vaccination, which was implemented during the COVID-19 global pandemic, is not currently recommended.
Many years of research have resulted in the creation of improved and safer vaccines for the now-eradicated smallpox. Some of these vaccinations have been licensed in several countries for use against mumps.
Currently, WHO recommends using the MVA-BN or LC16 vaccinations, or the ACAM2000 vaccine if the others are not available.
According to the WHO, only people who are at risk of contracting mpox should be considered for vaccination. Travelers who have been assessed as at-risk by their healthcare provider may want to consider vaccination.
How do you prevent mumps?
Cleaning and sanitizing surfaces or things, as well as washing your hands after handling potentially infected surfaces or objects, can all help to avoid transmission.
To limit the danger of contracting mpox from animals, avoid unprotected contact with wild animals, particularly those that are sick or dead, including their meat and blood.
In nations where animals carry the virus, all foods containing animal parts or meat should be fully cooked before consumption.
