Mpox: What do you need to know?
Formerly known as monkeypox, the World Health Organization recently declared mpox a global health emergency on August 14. The “first wave” of mpox occurred in 2022, where a version of the virus known as clade II began spreading rapidly. Clade II continues to cause a small minority of the mpox cases around the world, but the first mpox emergency ended per the WHO in 2023. On August 15, a case of clade I mpox was reported in Sweden in someone who had recently traveled from Africa, the first-time clade I mpox had ever been diagnosed outside the continent. Aren’t sure how to find reliable information about this new outbreak? BioBros has three key things you should know.
Why was it declared an emergency? There have been at least 15,000 cases of mpox this year across Africa, primarily in Congo, approximately 90 of the cases have been diagnosed in countries that had never previously contracted it—these include Burundi, Uganda, and Kenya. A new version of the virus, clade Ib, has also popped up in the Congo and is the source of new concern.
How is mpox transmitted? In 2022, most cases of mpox were identified in men who had intercourse with men, although it could also be transmitted through contact with others’ clothing, bedding, or skin. The new version, clade Ib, however, is primarily spreading through men and women who have intercourse, which is especially worrying for pregnant women, for whom mpox is a more immediate concern. Children are also especially vulnerable to mpox, with over 5,000 cases and 300 deaths reported so far in children.
Should I be concerned? Fortunately, the Department of Health and Human Services in the United States has maintained that Americans are at very low risk of contracting mpox. During the previous outbreak of mpox, public health officials in the US and Europe quickly distributed vaccines, leading to under 100,000 cases across the regions. Currently, there is minimal risk for Americans and Europeans. As the story progresses, BioBros will have updates for you.
Author: Arjun Puri
References: Craig, J. (2024). Mpox never stopped spreading in Africa. Now it’s an international public health emergency. Again. Retrieved from https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/366903/mpox-monkeypox-africa-continental-emergency-drc-who-clade
Saey, T. H. (2024). Why mpox is a global health emergency - again. Retrieved from https://www.sciencenews.org/article/mpox-global-health-emergency-again
