Mpox Virus Outbreak: What You Need to Know

The World Health Organization (WHO) says the mpox virus outbreak has hit at least 11 African countries. Four of these countries had never seen the disease before. Over 17,000 suspected cases have been reported, showing just how big the problem is.

This virus is in the same family as the smallpox virus. It spreads among animals in Central and West Africa but can also affect humans. This leads to small outbreaks. The WHO has declared it a public health emergency because it can be deadly, with a 10% mortality rate for some variants.

• The mpox virus, formerly known as monkeypox, has caused a significant outbreak in Africa, with over 17,000 suspected cases across the continent.
• The virus regularly spreads among animals in Central and West Africa but can occasionally jump to humans, causing small outbreaks.
• The current outbreak has triggered the WHO to declare it a public health emergency of international concern, as the mortality rate can reach up to 10% for certain variants.
• The outbreak is likely just the “tip of the iceberg” due to weaknesses in surveillance, testing, and contact tracing.
• The World Health Organization is working to provide information and guidance to affected communities to contain the spread of the virus.

Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is a viral disease. It comes from the same family as the smallpox virus. There are two main types: clade I and clade II. Clade I causes more severe illness and can be deadly. The current outbreak is from a clade II subtype.

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The mpox virus was first found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970. It’s common in central and West Africa. People can get it from animals or other people, through close contact like touching, sex, or breathing droplets.

Before, mpox was rare. But now, it’s spreading to new places, causing worry.

Mpox comes from animals to humans. It’s in the same group as the smallpox virus. There are two main types: clade I and clade II. Clade I is more dangerous and deadly. The 2022 and 2023 outbreaks were from a clade II subtype.

“Mpox was first discovered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970 and has been endemic in central and West Africa.”

The mpox virus spreads through close contact with others. This includes touching, sex, or breathing droplets. The recent spread to new countries has raised concerns about its growth.

Mpox, once known as monkeypox, is a viral illness with various symptoms. The most common symptom is a unique rash. It starts on the face, hands, or feet and spreads to other body parts. The rash includes mpox lesions that go through stages, from bumps to scabs.

People with mpox may also have fever, headache, muscle aches, and low energy. The rash can have a few or thousands of lesions. It can last for two to four weeks.

Mpox spreads through close contact with an infected person. This includes skin-to-skin contact, sexual activity, and respiratory droplets. The virus can also stay on objects touched by an infected person. This means it can spread to others who touch these items.

It can also spread from a pregnant person to their baby, or from a parent to their child after birth. Knowing how mpox spreads helps prevent its spread.

“Mpox can spread through close contact with people who have the illness, such as skin-to-skin contact, sexual activity, and respiratory droplets.”

The mpox outbreak started in a small mining town in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It has spread to at least 11 other African countries. Countries like Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda were new to mpox cases. By August 2024, the DRC had over 15,664 cases and 537 deaths, more than in 2023.

Now, one person in Sweden has caught the virus, the first outside Africa. This new mpox variant is spreading fast. It’s making people worry it could become a global health threat, like COVID-19.

“The reported cases are just the ‘tip of the iceberg’ due to weaknesses in surveillance, testing, and contact tracing across the continent.”

– Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention

Some groups are more likely to get and have severe mpox. These include newborns, kids, pregnant people, and those with weak immune systems. This includes people living with HIV or advanced AIDS. To lower the risk, it’s important to clean and disinfect surfaces or objects that might be dirty. Also, wash your hands after touching these items.

It’s key to avoid touching wild animals that are sick or dead. This helps stop the virus from spreading from animals to people. In places where mpox is common, make sure to cook food with animal parts or meat well before eating it. Tracking who might have been in contact with someone who has mpox and isolating them is also vital to stop the virus from spreading.

• Keep up with mpox hygiene by cleaning and disinfecting surfaces often touched by people
• Wash hands well with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers after touching things that might be dirty
• Stay away from people with rashes or symptoms of mpox
• Don’t touch wild animals that look sick or are dead to avoid getting mpox from them
• In places where mpox is common, make sure to cook food with animal parts or meat until it’s well done
• Work with mpox contact tracing efforts and stay away if you’ve been exposed or are showing symptoms

“Stopping the spread of mpox needs a strong plan. This includes good hygiene, avoiding risky contacts, and helping with health efforts.”

Most people get better from mpox in a few weeks with care like pain or fever medicine. But, some might get very sick or have serious problems that need hospital care and special medicine. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests using MVA-BN or LC16 vaccines, or ACAM2000 if those are not available, for those at high risk.

But, giving vaccines to everyone is not advised right now. Many African countries don’t have enough vaccines. Also, a drug called tecovirimat, once used for mpox, doesn’t work against the virus causing this outbreak. We need new treatments and vaccines to fight this health crisis.

Having good mpox treatments and vaccines is key to fighting the outbreak. But, the situation keeps changing, and not everyone has access to these important tools.

• The WHO suggests using MVA-BN or LC16 vaccines, or ACAM2000 if not available, for those at high risk.
• But, mpox vaccine is hard to find, especially in Africa where the virus is common.
• Studies show the drug tecovirimat doesn’t work against the virus causing this outbreak.
• We need to keep working on new treatments and vaccines to solve this health crisis.

“Ongoing research and development of new treatments and vaccines are crucial for addressing this public health emergency.”

The global mpox outbreak has led to a strong public health response. The World Health Organization (WHO) has called it a public health emergency. They urge countries to boost surveillance, testing, and tracing contacts.

But, there are hurdles. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention say the reported cases are probably just a small part of the issue. They point out weaknesses in public health systems across Africa. To fight the virus, we need better global coordination, more vaccines and treatments, and more awareness.

Healthcare workers are getting priority for the mpox vaccine. This is to protect them and stop the virus from spreading. It’s important to keep these workers safe so they can keep giving care during the outbreak.

By focusing on these key areas, countries and health groups can work together to stop the outbreak. This will help lessen its effects over time.

The mpox virus outbreak is a big worry for the world, making the World Health Organization call it a global health emergency. This new virus strain has caused over 17,000 suspected cases and more than 500 deaths in Africa. This shows we need quick action to stop it from spreading.

Most people who get mpox will get better, but some can die, especially those who are very young, pregnant, or have weak immune systems. To fight this outbreak, we must improve monitoring, testing, tracing contacts, and make sure everyone has access to vaccines and treatments.

Research and working together with other countries are key to tackling this health issue. By sharing what we know from past outbreaks, we can get better at being ready, responding, and bouncing back from the mpox virus and other new diseases. The lessons from this outbreak should help guide how we protect people’s health all over the world.