Mpox Outbreak: WHO Declares Emergency Amidst Rising Cases
Overview of the mpox Outbreak
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the ongoing Mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) due to its spread across over 115 countries. Mpox is a zoonotic viral disease belonging to the Poxviridae family and the Orthopoxvirus genus, related to smallpox and cowpox viruses.
Symptoms of Mpox
- Rash
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Back pain
- Swollen lymph nodes
Transmission of Mpox
- Animal-to-Human Transmission Through contact with body fluids of infected animals or consumption of contaminated animal products.
- Human-to-Human Transmission: Direct contact with skin rashes, body fluids, or through activities like kissing, touching, and sexual interactions (oral, vaginal, or anal sex).
Variants of Mpox
- Clade I (Congo Basin Clade)
- Sporadic and primarily zoonotic
- Fatality rate: less than 4%
- Causes more severe disease and death than Clade II
- Clade Ib
- First identified in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2023
- Spreads rapidly through human-to-human transmission
- Children under 15 account for 80% of deaths, especially those under one year old
- Clade II (West African Clade)
- Main driver of the 2022 global Mpox outbreak
- Primarily found in West Africa, particularly Nigeria
Treatment and Prevention
- No specific treatment available for Mpox; supportive care is the mainstay.
- Three smallpox vaccines have been approved for prevention:
- MVA-BN
- LC16
- OrthopoxVac
- Quarantine for infected persons and animals is recommended for 30 days.
The Path Forward
- Strengthen molecular surveillance and monitoring
- Develop indigenous capacity for vaccine manufacturing
- Increase public awareness and education
- Improve surveillance and response strategies globally
- Avoid contact with animals that can spread Mpox, particularly monkeys and other wildlife
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)
- A formal declaration by WHO signaling a global public health risk requiring coordinated international action.
- Mpox joins a list of eight PHEIC declarations since 2006, which include outbreaks such as Zika, Ebola, COVID-19, and Swine Flu.
World Health Organization (WHO)
- Specialized UN agency for international public health
- Established in 1948 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland
- Comprises 194 member states globally
The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General has declared the Mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) due to its rapid spread across over 115 countries. Mpox is a zoonotic viral disease from the Poxviridae family and the Orthopoxvirus genus, closely related to smallpox and cowpox viruses. Symptoms include a rash, fever, sore throat, headaches, muscle aches, back pain, and swollen lymph nodes. Transmission occurs via direct contact with infected animals, consumption of contaminated animal products, or close human contact, especially with body fluids, skin lesions, or through sexual interactions. Three main Mpox variants are identified: Clade I, Clade Ib, and Clade II. Clade I, known as the Congo Basin clade, has a fatality rate below 4% and is more severe than Clade II. Clade Ib was first reported in 2023 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and spreads rapidly through human contact, particularly affecting children, who account for 80% of the deaths. Clade II, or the West African clade, led the global outbreak in 2022, primarily in Nigeria. While there is no specific treatment for Mpox, supportive care is vital. Three smallpox vaccines—MVA-BN, LC16, and OrthopoxVac—are approved for prevention, and those infected should be quarantined for 30 days. Efforts must focus on enhanced molecular surveillance, vaccine production, public awareness, and improved international coordination. WHO's declaration of Mpox as a PHEIC highlights the necessity of a unified global response to contain the outbreak. The WHO, based in Geneva, Switzerland, has made eight PHEIC declarations since 2006, for diseases such as Zika, Ebola, and COVID-19, underscoring the severe threat Mpox poses to global health.
