Mpox Outbreak 2024: Essential Information and Safety Tips

Have you heard of Mpox? Wondering why it's making headlines again?

Many of us first learned of mpox (previously known as monkeypox) in 2022, when the largest known outbreak affected approximately 100,000 people across more than 100 nations. While mpox is commonly seen in central and western Africa, the 2022 outbreak expanded fast from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to previously unknown locations. Before the epidemic was contained, the United States alone reported over 32,000 infections and 58 deaths.

A new outbreak of mpox has brought it back into the spotlight. What should you know and do about the latest global health emergency? What are your risks? Are vaccinations available? How do you avoid spreading mpox?

What is unique about the 2024 mpox outbreak?
This time, the virus has a new variant known as Clade 1b that is spreading swiftly. That is why the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a second global health emergency in August 2024.

More than 15,600 cases and 500 deaths have been reported so far, with the majority occurring in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. And mpox has been discovered in countries where no cases had previously been reported, such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. Recent instances in Sweden and Thailand have prompted public health officials to prepare for further international spread, potentially to Asia, Europe, and the United States.

Mpox: 6 Things You Should Know

What is mpox, and how is it transmitted?
Mpox is a viral infection caused by viruses from the same family as smallpox. Certain animals in central and western Africa, such as squirrels and rats, are prone to it. People can become infected by interaction with sick animals. Mpox can be transmitted from person to person via close physical contact, including intercourse.

What are the symptoms of mpox?
Mpox causes flu-like symptoms, fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and a distinct rash. The rash normally appears a few days after the infection, as little flat areas. Over the course of a week or two, the spots develop into little fluid-filled bumps (vesicles) similar to chickenpox, followed by bigger pus-filled blisters. The blisters will scab and recover over the next week or two. After then, a person is no longer contagious.

Although the condition is often minor, some patients have problems. Serious problems include pneumonia, eyesight loss from an eye infection, and sepsis, a potentially fatal infection.

What are your chances of having mpox?

Location and activities influence your risk of contracting mpox.

Risk rises if you

possess bedding, clothing, or other items or surfaces touched by an infected person; live in or travel to an area where the mpox virus is endemic, meaning it is present in the environment, such as in the soil; be a man who engages in frequent sex with men and has multiple sexual partners.

When patients develop mpox, the risk factors for experiencing more severe disease or consequences, including pneumonia, are:

Pregnancy, young age (particularly for children under 1), compromised immune system, and eczema can all weaken the skin barrier.

Why is the mpox outbreak so concerning?

The present outbreak of mpox is particularly concerning because the virus strain is more deadly than in 2022. The virus is spreading faster and reaching areas where mpox had not previously been discovered.

Furthermore, the current outbreak has disproportionately affected children and teenagers, many of whom are already malnourished or have other infections like cholera.

Are there any mpox vaccinations or treatments?

There are two vaccines available to prevent mpox in the United States:

• Jynneos is licensed for the prevention of smallpox and mpox. It requires two injections, four weeks apart.
• ACAM2000 is a vaccination that is authorized for the prevention of smallpox and is thought to be effective against mpox. It could be made available if necessary, but its probable negative effects make it a secondary option.

Vaccine access has been limited in resource-poor nations such as Africa, Asia, and elsewhere. Even in resource-rich countries such as Europe and the United States, vaccination reluctance has hampered efforts to manage the outbreak. In one study, just half of a vulnerable group in Illinois received the first dose of the mpox vaccine, and only one-quarter received both required doses.

Tecovirimat, an antiviral medication, is approved to treat smallpox. Animal research indicates that it may be useful in treating mpox as well. The medication is now being studied as an mpox treatment and may be available by joining a study. A 2024 study indicated that tecovirimat did not shorten the duration of symptoms in adults and children with Clade 1 mpox. However, the death rate (1.7%) was half that what was predicted. However, it remains unclear if the low fatality rate was related to drug treatment.

How can a person with mpox avoid spreading it?

If you have been diagnosed with mpox, you should take the following precautions to avoid infecting others:

Avoid close contact with people until your skin lesions heal.
Wear a well-fitting medical mask when near others; visitors should also wear one.
Keep several feet or more away from others.
Use separate bedrooms and bathrooms.
Clean every surface you've touched.
Avoid sharing dining utensils, towels, or mattresses with others.
To improve ventilation, open windows or use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.

Some specialists advise against contact with pets or other animals because they may become infected and transfer the disease to new animal species in new locations.

Conclusion

Will mpox be the next pandemic? That is unlikely. The mpox virus distributes mostly through direct touch, as opposed to the COVID-19 virus, which spreads by minute respiratory droplets that can be easily inhaled. Furthermore, contagious mpox patients usually exhibit evident symptoms, allowing them to take precautions to prevent the disease from spreading.

Currently, the risk of mpox to the majority of persons in the United States appears to be low. To ensure that it remains that way and to assist countries where mpox is prevalent, US public health officials are collaborating with counterparts in other countries to manage the outbreak. To be successful, we will require a strong and well-coordinated worldwide effort, including financial assistance to resource-poor countries to pay educational initiatives, immunization, testing, and treatment.