WHO has declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern after cases were reported outside the African continent, in countries including Sweden and Pakistan.
Monkeypox is back in the news! A dangerous and contagious variant of mpox is reported to be spreading beyond the African continent, causing concern around the world. The World Health Organization has declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern – the second time in two years – following an outbreak of mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to news reports, Sweden has also confirmed its first case of mpox clade I, making it the first non-African country with this variant of mpox. According to the Swedish Public Health Agency, the person was infected while in Africa. Three cases of the Mpox virus, formerly known as monkeypox, have been detected in Pakistan, according to Reuters.
Mpox in Sweden
The man sought help in the Stockholm region of Sweden after doctors discovered he had mpox caused by the clade I virus, the first case outside the African continent. “This concerns a person who was infected while in a part of Africa where mpox clade I is still spreading,” the Public Health Agency of Sweden.
“The infected person has received treatment,” says Magnus Giesslen, state epidemiologist at the Public Health Authority. Even if a person is treated for mpox in a country, it does not affect the risk to the general population. European Infection Control Authority European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) currently assesses the risk as very low.
Mpox, a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus, has two distinct forms, clade I and clade II. “A clade II case has previously been observed in Sweden, but clade I is likely associated with higher mortality,” the agency said. Clade II was primarily spread through sexual contact, but clade I is now spreading through close family contacts.
Mpox declared a global public health emergency
The Swedish case comes just a day after WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced flash mpox a public health emergency of international concern. “The emergence of a new mpox clade, its rapid spread in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and reports of cases in several neighbouring countries are deeply concerning,” said Dr Ghebreyesus in making the statement. “In addition to outbreaks of other mpox clades in the DRC and elsewhere in Africa, it is clear that a coordinated international response is needed to stop these outbreaks and save lives.”
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The announcement was made after consultation with the International Health Emergencies Committee, a group of independent experts, who considered the mpox surge to be a global problem. They said there was a potential for mpox to spread further into Africa and possibly beyond.
History of Mpox
Mpox, first detected in humans in 1970 in the DRC, is considered endemic to countries in Central and West Africa. Two years ago, the mpox outbreak was declared a global health emergency when it spread rapidly through sexual contact. The global health emergency was declared over in May 2023 after a decline in mpox cases was noted. But the number of reported cases soon skyrocketed. This year, the number of reported mpox cases has surpassed last year's total. There are now more than 15,600 cases reported, and more than 530 people have died due to mpox, according to WHO.
What is mpox?
Mpox is a viral disease caused by monkeypox viruswhich is a type of orthopoxvirus and has symptoms similar to smallpox, but less severe. Mpox is a disease that spreads from animals to humans, with evidence of the virus found in animals including squirrels, various types of monkeys, and the Gambian pouched rat. It can also spread from person to person and is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids, as well as skin lesionsaccording to data World Health Organization.
General mpox symptoms are:
- A skin rash that can last from 2 to 4 weeks
- High temperature
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Back pain
- Low energy consumption
- Enlarged lymph nodes.
The WHO recommends that people at high risk get vaccinated to prevent mpox. The list includes:
- People working in the hospital and at risk of infection
- Men having sex with other men
- People who have more than one sexual partner
- Sex workers
Treatment for this viral disease should focus on treating the skin rash and pain to prevent complications. WHO recommends frequently washing your hands with soap and water or using hand sanitizer, especially before or after touching the rash, keeping your skin dry and uncovered, and staying in your room if possible. People infected with mpox usually recover within 2 to 4 weeks.