Mpox

Two hands are being held out to show the lesions from mpox
FMT | CC BY 4.0

➡️ Mpox (Monkeypox) - Understanding the Current Outbreak

Mpox is a viral zoonosis - a virus transmitted to humans from animals. The symptoms are similar to those seen in smallpox, an infectious disease eradicated in 1980.

In May 2022 and then again in August 2024, after various outbreaks around the world, the World Health Organization officially declared public health emergencies, the latest of which is still ongoing. The first ever recorded case in humans was in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This was also the location of the first sustained community outbreak in 2022. The disease has now spread to many countries outside Africa that had previously never reported mpox.

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Schematic illustration of monkeypox, HIV, SARS CoV-2, and polio viruses, drawn to scale. Membranes and membrane-bound proteins are in purple, capsids are in dark blue, and genomes and nucleoid-associated proteins are in turquoise.
PDB-101.rcsb.org | CC BY 4.0

Initially named monkeypox due to its discovery in 1958 among laboratory monkeys, the virus historically has primarily occurred in Central and West Africa, often in proximity to tropical rainforests.

Common symptoms include fever, rash, intense headaches, back and muscle pain, and swollen lymph nodes, which can lead to various medical complications. The disease spreads through close contact with an infected person or animal.

Can Mpox be Treated?

Currently, there is no proven treatment other than supportive care of the rash, maintaining hydration, pain and fever management, and prevention of further complications.

There are vaccines for mpox, however, they are currently only being recommended for healthcare workers or those who might be at high risk of exposure. The vaccines MVA-BN and LC16m8 help prevent and reduce symptoms. Lack of vaccine equity has resulted in the stockpile of mpox vaccines in rich countries, of which the DR of Congo saw none until September 2024. 10 million doses are needed for the whole African continent to stop the spread. There is not enough capacity to manufacture the vaccines locally, and so poorer countries are left to rely on charitable donations as they are unable to afford the high prices set by pharmaceutical companies in rich nations.

Most people recover from mpox within 2-4 weeks. Preventive measures include avoiding contact with animals that could harbour the virus, especially sick or dead animals in areas where monkeypox occurs. Implementing good hygiene and infection control practices, such as washing hands regularly and using personal protective equipment, can help prevent the spread of the virus. People with mpox should stay at home during the infectious period.

Human-to-human transmission is spread through close contact. Most of the cases that were reported in the 2022 outbreak were in the gay and bisexual community. Men who have sex with other men became the most at-risk members of society. Those who have multiple sexual partners or new sexual partners are also at a higher risk.

Map of Monkeypox Outbreak 2022 as of 6th August. The black areas, Brazil, India, some African countries, and Spain, are countries which have reported deaths.
Wikieditor019 | CC BY-SA 4.0

Global Prevalence of Mpox

The prevalence of monkeypox has been primarily concentrated in central and West African countries, where it is endemic. However, outbreaks have occurred in other regions, notably in 2022, when multiple cases were reported across Europe, the Americas, and other parts of the world.

Two types of viruses cause mpox: clade I and clade II. They spread and can be prevented in the same way. Data provided by the CDC collected after January 1, 2024, confirms more than 24,000 cases worldwide across 81 locations. There have been 90 confirmed deaths.

To prevent further spread, organisations such as WHO and the CDC have focused efforts on disease surveillance, research, strengthening local healthcare capacities, infection prevention initiatives including public health education, and vaccine roll-outs.

The stigma around mpox has contributed to the prolonging of the outbreak as those displaying symptoms are reluctant to seek out treatment. Discrimination has been directed at members of the gay and trans communities, where homophobic stereotypes have been exacerbated by media reports comparing it to the early days of HIV.

We must ensure that responses to emerging and re-emerging disease outbreaks are free of stigma and that everyone has equal access to diagnosis and treatment regardless of their sexual orientation, race, gender, or any other factor.

Author: Rachael Mellor 04.02.25, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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