| Symptoms and Progress of Mpox • Initial symptoms include fever, headaches, swellings, back pain and aching muscles. • After the fever subsides, a rash may develop, starting on the face and spreading to the body, particularly the palms and soles. • The infection usually clears up in 14 to 21 days but can be fatal, especially in vulnerable groups like young children. • Severe cases may involve widespread lesions, affecting the mouth, eyes, and genitals. |
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) following its outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and its spread to over a dozen African countries.
- This marks the second time in two years that mpox has been declared a PHEIC, earlier in 2022 multi-country outbreak in Europe.
- Mpox earlier known as Monkeypox is caused by a virus in the same family as smallpox but is usually much less harmful.
- It was originally transmitted from animals to humans but now also passes between humans.
- The current mpox outbreak, caused by the lethal clade 1b virus, has led to more than 500 deaths this year.
- In the DRC, two-thirds of infections are in children under 15.
- This clade emerged in the DRC and it has spread through sexual and non-sexual contact.
- Clad 1b virus can kill up to 10% of infected people whereas in the European outbreak caused by clad 2b virus, around 99% of people with infection recovered.
- Vaccines are in acute short supply, with only 0.21 million doses available immediately, compared to the 10 million needed to control the outbreak.
- Currently, only the DRC and Nigeria in Africa have granted emergency use authorisation for the vaccine.
- Three cases of mpox have been detected in Pakistan, marking the first in Asia. In response, the government is enhancing airport screening systems.
Dig Deeper: Read about whether the smallpox vaccine can prevent mpox among children in India.
