MPOX Worldwide Outbreak 2024

All about mpox (monkeypox) , the virus that is now spreading worldwide in the most recent outbreak of 2024.

What is mpox (monkeypox ) ?

Caused by an Orthopoxvirus, mpox was first detected in humans in 1970, in the DRC. 

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/monkeypox

About mpox

The amount of countries with the virus is increasing. 

The upsurge in DRC is being driven by two separate outbreaks of two strains, or clades of the virus that causes mpox.

The first is an outbreak in northwestern DRC of what was previously known as clade 1, now called clade 1a, which is endemic in that part of the country. This outbreak is primarily affecting children and is spread through multiple modes of transmission.

The second is an outbreak in northeastern DRC of a new offshoot of clade 1 called clade 1b, which was first detected in September last year and is spreading rapidly, mainly through sexual transmission among adults.

More than 100 cases of clade 1b have also been reported in four countries neighbouring DRC which had not reported mpox before

The rapid spread of clade 1b, and its detection in neighbouring countries, was the main reason for the decision by the World Health Organisation to declare a public health emergency of international concern. – PHEIC

CLADE 1a

Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo ( DRC )

CLADE 1b

African Countries  – Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda

Outside of Africa – Sweden , Thailand, India

“Both clade 1a and 1b cause more severe disease”

CLADE 2

Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Nigeria and South Africa, Philippines, Pakistan

“clade 2, which caused the global outbreak of mpox over which was declared a public health emergency of international concern in 2022 – not as serious as clade 2.

Bringing the outbreaks under control, will require a complex, comprehensive and coordinated international response.

What does it look like  / symptoms ?

• Common symptoms of mpox are a skin rash or mucosal lesions which can last 2–4 weeks accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.

How does mpox spread ?

• Mpox can be transmitted to humans through physical contact with someone who is infectious, with contaminated materials, or with infected animals.

Related Articles 

News article from BBC  –  13th August 2024  – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0e84jw9qdjo