How Far Has Mpox Spread?
Mpox, a viral disease formerly known as monkeypox, has spread to at least two countries outside of Africa after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a “public health emergency.” A new strain known as clade 1 has been spreading across Africa since 2022, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) experiencing the largest outbreak to date. Mpox cases have been reported in 13 African countries, with cases up 160% and deaths increasing by 19% compared to the previous year.
The virus has also been detected outside of Africa. Pakistan confirmed its first case, involving a traveler from Saudi Arabia, while Sweden reported its first case, linked to a person who contracted the virus in Africa.
How Does Mpox Affect the Human Body?
Mpox belongs to the same family of viruses as smallpox but generally causes milder symptoms. It can lead to flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, and body aches, and it also causes pus-filled lesions on the skin. The virus spreads through the bloodstream after entering the body via broken skin or the respiratory tract. While mpox is usually mild, it can be severe and even deadly in some cases, particularly for those with weakened immune systems or untreated HIV, as well as children.
How Does Mpox Spread?
Mpox spreads primarily through close contact with an infected person or animal. Human-to-human transmission can occur via skin-to-skin contact, respiratory droplets, and contact with contaminated objects like bedding or clothing. Skin lesions remain infectious for about three weeks, making direct contact a significant transmission route.
Human-to-animal transmission typically happens through bites, scratches, or contact with an infected animal’s wounds.
What Are the Symptoms?
Mpox typically presents with flu-like symptoms and a rash with lesions. Most people experience mild symptoms, including a fever and a few lesions, but some may develop severe illness with hundreds of lesions covering their body.
Who Is at Risk for Severe Symptoms?
Those at higher risk of severe mpox symptoms include individuals with untreated HIV or weakened immune systems, as well as children. Children are particularly vulnerable due to their developing immune systems and higher likelihood of close contact with others in densely populated areas.
What Treatment Is Available for Mpox?
There is currently no specific treatment for mpox, though antiviral drugs are being tested. Vaccination is available and effective in reducing the risk of infection, but access to vaccines is limited in Africa. The Africa CDC has secured 280,000 vaccine doses, enough to fully vaccinate 140,000 people, but this is insufficient for the scale of the outbreak.
How Can You Protect Yourself?
To protect yourself from mpox, follow basic personal hygiene practices such as frequent hand washing and avoiding close contact with those who are sick. If you are in a country where the mpox vaccine is accessible, getting vaccinated is highly recommended.
Could Mpox Spread Further?
The risk of further spread is significant, especially in central Africa where the outbreak is most severe. Although richer countries may be able to contain the virus quickly, the focus of containment efforts needs to be on central Africa to prevent further global transmission.
Dr. Ngashi Ngongo from Africa CDC emphasized the importance of acting swiftly, drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent a larger crisis.
