Mpox – A new threat

Mpox – A new threat is spreading all over the world. Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) is a disease caused by infection with a virus, known as Monkeypox virus. This virus is part of the same family as the virus that causes smallpox. People with Mpox often get a rash, along with other symptoms. The rash will go through several stages, including scabs, before healing. Any one can get it from infected animal too.

Contents:

What is Mpox?

Origin. of Mpox.

Types of Mpox.

Current spread of Mpox.

Symptoms of Mpox.

If you are exposed to mpox.

Treatment.

mpox vaccine

Achievements..

What is Mpox ?

Scientists explain Mpox as a member of  the Poxviridae family of viruses called Orthopoxvirus.

They’re zoonotic diseases, which means they can infect animals and humans. Orthopoxviruses infect mammals like cows, cats and small rodents, but they sometimes spread to people, too. There are 12 species in this genus. Diseases associated with this genus include smallpox, cowpox, horsepox, camelpox, and mpox.

Origin of Mpox- A new threat.

It is believed that Mpox was discovered firstly in monkeys in Democratic Republic of Congo in 1958. At that time, it was called as Monkeypox. The very first documented human patient of Monkeypox was found in 1970 during efforts to eliminate small pox in the region.

Mpox had been spreading in African countries such as Kenya, Burundi, Congo Brazzaville, Uganda, Rwanda and the Central African Republic. Among these regions, the Democratic Republic of Congo is the most affected region for Mpox . More than 15,600 cases and 537 deaths are reported this year. Total 22,000 cases and 1,200 deaths are report3d since the beginning of Mpox spread   in the country from January 2023.

Swedish public health officials confirmed a case of new Mpox clade 1b case last week. It was found in a citizen who recently travelled to Africa.

During the past decade , many outbreak of Mpox appear in west and central Africa . Such outbreaks appeared in some areas where the virus was considered  “will spread at a  low level”.  In such areas, the spread of virus to human was by mice and rats.

Prior to global outbreak in 2022, spread of Mpox in U.S.  happened due to the returning travelers from affected regions of Africa. Beside that the virus spread in the U.S.  in 2003 was due to a shipment of mammals from Ghana.

Types of Mpox-A new threat.

There are two types of Mpox known  up till now.

• The first one is called as clade II. had a lower fatality rate as compared to previous outbreaks.
• The second one is known as clade 1b.It is  highly transmissible. it has more severe symptoms, and has a highly fatality rate as compared to clade II.
• Both types spread by sexual contact and routine close contacts.

Current spread of Mpox- A  new threat.

There were 30,000 cases in U.S.A ,  during outbreak of Mpox in 2022. New York and California were declared as state of emergency. At present , no case of clade 1b has been reported in the U.S.A. up till now. The CDC maintains the risk of Mpox  is very low.

Will Kimbrough , MD, a primary care physician at One Medical said in his own words as :

” The new clade of mpox outbreak is limited to a few countries around the world. With there being some pre-existing immunity from past cases and at-risk individuals having already received the 2-part vaccine series in 2022 , it’s unlikely that we’ll see as large of an outbreak again in 2024. Individuals should talk with their primary care provider if they need guidance on risk reduction approaches.”

David Diemert, MD, professor in the School of Medicine & Health Sciences Department of Medicine at George Washington University noted as under:

” The low risk to the U.S.A , may be ascribed to a lack of direct flights from the U.S to the DRC  and neighboring African countries. However, if the outbreak continues to spread in Africa, or if additional cases are detected in Europe or other countries, this assessment may change.”

Usually Mpox spreads from person to person by direct skin contact. It could be at home, in schools , in any gathering too. It is advised to isolate the affected person from others.

Symptoms of Mpox.

Symptoms of the disease include the following :

• Fever—-chill and body aches.
• Headache—- and fatigue.
• Rash —- face , genitals, mouth, hands, feet or chest.
• Respiratory symptoms —- Sore throat, nasal congestion and cough.
• Swollen lymph nodes.

Dr. Kimbrough explains more that within 7 to 14 days of exposure, full symptoms appear. Fever remains for 1 to 3 days , and then rash develops, which looks like raised, pearly full-filled blisters.  The rash could remain for 2 to 4 weeks before becoming scabs and healing. Dr. Kimbrough also explained that “ An individual with mpox is no longer considered contagious once all the scabs have fallen off and new skin has formed “ .

If you are exposed to mpox,

If you have travelled to mpox affected areas, chances of having affected are there. If you believe that you have been exposed  and will have mpox  soon, Dr. Kimbrough recommend the following for you:

• Isolate yourself immediately.
•  If you have above mentioned symptoms , consult your doctor.  It is quite possible that your symptoms point to an other infection.
• Notify your friends/relatives not to visit you till you are fully recovered.

Treatment of Mpox-A new threat .

It is a God gifted favor to man kind that most cases of mpox resolve without any treatment. At present, there is no approved treatment for mpox available. Some medicines which were develop to treat small pox may help treat in severe cases. Such medicine may not be effective against new strains.

Dr. Kimbrough suggest the following treatment at home   for people with less serious mpox infections  ;

• Ibuprofen  —-  pain reliever or fever reducers.
• Calamine lotion —- for itching or painful sores.
• Rest & fluids —–to prevent dehydration.

Mpox vaccine;

A vaccine called Jynneos , which was being used to treat small pox , is highly protective against all clades of the mpox virus.  however, the vaccine is not widely available in African countries currently facing the clade 1b outbreak.

Achievements.

• The growing Mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and surrounding African countries prompted the WHO to declare a global public health emergency.
• European health officials raised the continent’s risk assessment level to moderate after the first case of the new mpox strain was identified in a Swedish citizen who recently traveled to Africa.
• A European WHO official announced the virus is ” not the new COVID” to dispel any misinformation about the outbreak.
• Further transmission mpox in Europe is ” highly likely” , but the risk to the U.S.A. remain very low.
• People considered at high risk for mpox infection should receive Jynneos vaccine.

source: healthline.com