Image Source: hindustantimes.com
Overview:
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the mpox outbreak in Africa a global health emergency due to a highly infectious new variant. This decision follows an alert from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Cases of this more transmissible strain have now been reported in Sweden and Pakistan, indicating its spread beyond Africa. Since 2022, nearly 100,000 cases and 1,100 deaths have been reported across 116 countries.
Current Situation:
- Outbreak in Congo: Two strains of mpox are present: an endemic version and a newer, less understood variant. This new strain has spread through sexual and close contact, affecting children in displacement camps across Congo and neighboring countries, including Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, and Kenya.
- Transmission: Mpox spreads through direct contact with infected lesions, contaminated items such as clothing or linens, and animal-to-human interactions (e.g., bites or handling wildlife).
- Symptoms: Symptoms can appear 1 to 21 days after exposure and include rashes, fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes. The disease generally resolves within 2-4 weeks, though it is more severe for individuals with compromised immune systems.
Severity and Variants:
- New Strain: The newly identified strain is reported to be more contagious and deadly than previous ones.
- Clade Differences: Mpox severity varies by clade. Clade II, from West Africa, has a fatality rate of up to 1%, while Clade I from Central Africa can have fatality rates up to 10%.
Response and Measures:
- WHO Actions: The WHO is mobilizing international resources to contain the outbreak at its source.
- Surveillance: Enhanced global surveillance and open-source epidemic intelligence are crucial, particularly in regions with limited testing capabilities. Monitoring symptoms like rashes and fever across populations may help prevent further spread.
