What is mpox and how does it spread?
Mpox is a viral infection caused by the same family of viruses as smallpox. In central and western Africa it’s common in certain animals, including squirrels and rats. People can become infected after contact with infected animals. Mpox can spread from person to person through close physical contact, including sex.
What are the symptoms of mpox?
Mpox causes flu-like symptoms, fever, headache, enlarged lymph nodes, and a unique rash. Usually, a few days into the sickness, the rash appears as little flat areas. Over a week or two, the patches grow into larger pus-filled blisters and tiny fluid-filled lumps (vesicles) that resemble chickenpox. The blisters heal and scab up in a week or two. A person is no longer contagious after that.
Although the disease is usually not severe, some people experience problems. sepsis a potentially fatal infection, pneumonia, and vision loss from an eye infection are examples of serious effects.
What is your risk of getting infected with mpox?
Your chance of developing mpox is influenced by your activities and location.
Risk increases if you:
- have close physical proximity with a person or animal that is infected
- come into contact with clothing, bedding, or other items or surfaces that an infected person has touched.
- live in or travel to an area where the mpox virus is endemic, meaning it is found in the soil or in animals or humans that have been affected.
- having multiple sexual partners
When people get mpox, the following are the risk factors for developing pneumonia and severe disease:
- young age ( especially children below 1 year of age)
- pregnancy
- weak immunity people
- having eczema
What makes the recent mpox outbreak so concerning?
This time, a new strain of the virus (clad1b) is spreading quickly and this viral strain is more deadly than that occurred in 2022, which makes it particularly more concerning. That is why WHO declared the second wave of mpox as a global health emergency in August 2024.
The 2022 mpox strain (clade 1) continues to be present in the US, with fewer than 15 weekly diagnoses and available treatment. However, a new outbreak is affecting resource-poor nations, particularly impacting children and adolescents. Many of the affected individuals are already dealing with malnutrition or infections such as cholera, which worsen their vulnerability.
Are there any vaccines and treatments for mpox?
Two vaccines shield against mpox in the US:
- Jynneos and ACAM2000. Jynneos, the primary choice, prevents both mpox and smallpox. It requires two doses, spaced four weeks apart.
- ACAM2000, while effective against mpox, is officially approved for smallpox prevention. Despite its availability, ACAM2000’s potential side effects relegate it to a secondary option. Health officials prefer Jynneos for its safer profile and dual protection.
The containment of the mpox outbreak is hindered by two main challenges: limited access to vaccines and vaccine hesitancy. Many low-income African and Asian countries lack the resources to carry out widespread vaccination efforts. Surprisingly, even wealthy nations like Europe and US are facing resistance to vaccination. An Illinois study has shed light on this issue: in a vulnerable group, only 50% of individuals received the first dose, and just 25% completed the full series. These factors are combined to hinder effective outbreak control on a global scale.
What steps can a person with mpox take to stop spreading it?
If you are diagnosed with mpox, it’s important to follow these measures to avoid infection others;
- Avoid close contact with others until your skin lesions have healed.
- Wear a well-fitting medical mask while near others; those visiting you should also wear a mask.
- Stay several feet or more away from others.
- Use a separate bedroom and bathroom.
- Clean all surfaces you’ve touched.
- Don’t share eating utensils, towels, or bedding with others.
- Increase room ventilation by opening windows or using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifier.
Some experts recommend avoiding contact with pets or other animals because they could become infected and spread the disease to new animal species in new places.
The takeaway
Will mpox be the next pandemic? It’s important to note that this is unlikely. The virus that causes mpox mainly spreads through direct contact, which is different from the COVID-19 virus which spreads through small respiratory droplets in the air. Furthermore, people with mpox usually show clear symptoms when they are contagious. This means they can take steps to protect others and prevent the spread of the virus. By staying informed and taking precautions, we can work together to keep everyone safe.
The current risk of mpox to most people in the US seems to be quite low. To ensure it remains this way and to assist countries where mpox is prevalent, US public health officials are collaborating with their counterparts in other nations to control the outbreak. For this effort to be successful, a strong, well-coordinated international initiative is necessary, including financial support to resource-poor countries for funding educational programs, vaccination, testing, and treatment.