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The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the recent surge in mpox cases spreading to 116 countries as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
This PHEIC declaration is the second in two years related to mpox.
This declaration, made by WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, was followed by the advice of an International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee, composed of independent experts who reviewed data presented by WHO and affected countries.
The Committee concluded that the rapid spread of mpox, especially the new clade 1b strain in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring countries, "necessitates an urgent and coordinated international response."
The upsurge of mpox, particularly the sexually transmissible strain of clade 1b, is causing alarm among health experts.
Professor Dimie Ogoina, Chair of the IHR Emergency Committee, stressed the urgency of the situation, stating, "The current upsurge of mpox in parts of Africa is an emergency, not only for Africa but for the entire globe. It is time to act decisively to prevent history from repeating itself."
The disease, caused by an Orthopoxvirus, was first detected in humans in 1970 in the DRC and is endemic to central and west African countries.
Last year, mpox cases surged in the DRC, with more than 15,600 cases and 537 deaths reported.
The rapid spread of clade 1b, particularly through sexual transmission, has led to its detection in neighbouring countries like Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, marking the first time these countries have reported mpox cases.
In response to the crisis, WHO is accelerating efforts to expand vaccine access, particularly for lower-income countries.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MPOX
Mpox, formerly called monkeypox, is a zoonotic virus. It can be transmitted from animals to humans.
The causative virus belongs to the genus orthopoxvirus, which includes smallpox. It is a brick-shaped virus which primarily spreads through direct contact with infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids. Its illness is serious but generally milder than smallpox.
According to a report by India TV, Dr Neha Rastogi Panda, Senior Consultant, Infections Diseases, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, said that although mpox has huge potential to become a pandemic, the perception is that it's less likely compared to Covid-19.
"Unlike Covid-19, which is so easily transmitted from person to person through the air, mpox is mainly transmitted via direct contact with infectious rash or body fluids," said Dr Panda.
This vector of transmission usually requires closer contact, thereby making control easier. Furthermore, current smallpox vaccines do provide some protection against mpox, serving as a valuable tool in prevention.
Besides, it is less virulent than smallpox but serious health consequences have been taken into account, added Dr Panda.
HOW DANGEROUS IS MPOX?
Although most people improve within several weeks, some, like those with weakened immunity, young children, and pregnant women, are more likely to develop a serious illness with complications, such as skin infections, eye problems, encephalitis, and pneumonia.
According to Dr Panda, the case fatality rate, though lower for mpox than smallpox, means that preventive measures should still be taken and medical care should be given at the first signs and symptoms of the infection.
Therefore, mpox is not considered a lethal one to the majority of people, she added.
IS THERE A VACCINE?
The European Medicines Agency approved tecovirimat, an antiviral originally developed to treat smallpox, for the treatment of mpox under exceptional circumstances.
Three vaccines, MVA-BN, LC16, and OrthopoxVac, developed for smallpox are approved for the prevention of mpox.
WHO has accelerated the process for Emergency Use Listing (EUL) for mpox vaccines, which will expedite their distribution through partners like Gavi and UNICEF.
