Mpox: The New Global Health Emergency

A new, highly contagious strain of mpox is spreading across the globe, with the World Health Organization declaring a global health emergency.

A highly contagious and severe strain of mpox is causing concern as it spreads across continents, particularly in central Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global health emergency in response to the surge of cases in the Dominican Republic and over a dozen African nations.

What is Mpox?

Mpox, previously called monkeypox, is related to smallpox and was discovered in 1958. It is a zoonotic disease, spread by vertebrate animals to humans, but can also be transmitted person-to-person through physical contact. There are two types: clade I, endemic in central Africa, and clade II, in West Africa. The new, concerning variant is clade Ib, a more transmissible form of clade I.

The Outbreak:

In 2024, central and eastern Africa have seen over 17,000 infections and 500 deaths, mainly in Congo. This is a sharp increase from 2022-2023. The Africa CDC has called for international medical assistance and issued an emergency declaration.

Mpox and the USA:

Mpox has not yet reached the USA, but officials are preparing for its eventual arrival. The CDC has issued an alert and travel notice regarding the stronger clade I strain, particularly in Congo and nearby countries.

The 2022 Outbreak:

A previous outbreak of the clade II strain in 2022 was largely contained to Africa until it reached Europe and the USA in Spring 2022. In the USA, the outbreak primarily affected New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, with 638 cases reported on August 1, 2022. Overall, over 32,000 people were infected in the USA, with 58 deaths.

Transmission and Symptoms:

Mpox spreads through bodily fluids and physical contact, with person-to-person transmission through respiratory secretions or contact with infected skin lesions. Symptoms include a facial rash that spreads, headaches, fever, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, body aches, and blister-like lesions.

Treatment:

The JYNNEOS vaccine, a two-dose series, is highly effective against both clades with less than 1% of fully vaccinated people infected. However, many in at-risk groups are not fully vaccinated.