Recently, the world has witnessed the emergence of many infectious diseases. Such diseases have, thus, caused concerns across the world. One of these diseases include Mpox. A viral infection, Mpox has been declared as an international health concern by the World Health Organisation (WHO). An announcement that shows precisely how severe this outbreak is to the level of having worldwide alertness has consequently brought urgent attention and actions toward it.
What is Mpox?
Mpox is also known as monkeypox. It is a infectious viral disease, indicating that it is a virus passed from animals to humans. This is caused by the monkeypox virus of the orthopoxvirus genus, which also belongs to the same viral family as the variola virus that causes smallpox. Symptoms attributable to Mpox are similar to those due to smallpox, but generally their severity is less and it is less contagious. Symptoms that develop, including fever, rashes, and swollen lymph nodes, among others may ultimately lead to multiple body complications
Global Spread and Impact
Release of information by WHO declaring Mpox a global public health threat was after the significant increase in cases seen in various countries, and the virus is seen as a source of disease threat to public health. The spread of the virus is vast in case countries.
Countries Affected by Mpox
According to the latest reports, Mpox has emerged in several countries, most of which are located, as the endemic habitat of this virus, in the African continent. The latest outbreaks have spilt into other continents; in Europe, the Americas, and also in Asia. Among the most hit countries are Democratic Republic of Congo with 27000 and more than 1100 deaths since January 2023 mostly amongst children; Sweden’s global health officials announced that they found a new strain of mpox; Burundi, a country in east Africa has 61 cases as of August 9; apart from African countries, Pakistan Ministry of National Health Services has also confirmed the first case of mpox and told that the person had arrived from Saudi Arabia.
Public Health Response
The international response to the Mpox outbreak has been promptly addressed by the World Health Organisation and other national health organisations, which have already issued guidelines for disease surveillance, prevention, and management. Public health measures includes Increase surveillance in the areas affected and at risk to monitor the spread and quickly identify new cases; Using well-established smallpox vaccines in the populations at an increased risk and among close contacts of the confirmed cases; Public education on the symptoms of the disease, how it is spread, and methods of prevention that will help to reduce the transmission rate; and Issuing travel advisories to areas currently experiencing an outbreak in order to minimise the risk of international spread.