On 14th August, the World Health Organisation's Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, sent the world into turmoil by declaring Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) as a ‘public health emergency of immediate concern'. This is the second time since 2022 that the virus, initially endemic to Central and Western Africa, has started crossing international boundaries. The rapid upsurge of cases requires immediate care and action, especially after the fragile recovery of the world after COVID-19. Mpox is an infectious disease caused by a virus known as the monkeypox virus, which is part of the same family of diseases as smallpox. Symptoms can manifest any time between three to seventeen days and usually start with a rash that worsens to fever, chills, and swollen lymph nodes. As of now, no cure has been formulated. However, for those with a viable immune system, the virus should leave the body on its own. Mpox is a zoonotic disease, meaning humans contract the disease from animals or vertebrates through handling infected meat or through the bites and scratches of infected animals. Coming into contact with anyone who has been infected can spread the disease. The first instances of the deadly virus were reported back in 1958, though not in humans. In Denmark, monkeys being kept for research were seen to have developed a pox-like disease on their skin. In 1970, the first ever human Mpox case was discovered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since the initial case, Mpox has remained relatively rare. This however took a dramatic turn in 2022. The first global outbreak of Mpox occurred in 2022, stirring chaos worldwide. Professional health providers had only ever seen Mpox be confined to the walls of Africa. Yet in Africa, the virus was not treated very seriously. During the Coronavirus pandemic, most Africans refused to use the public healthcare system for fear of being exposed to COVID-19. Therefore, with the mass amount of international travel that year - two times more than in 2021 - it was easy for the virus to reach other countries. A preliminary shock rippled across countries, as the unresolved COVID-19 pandemic was still floating around the world. Healthcare services had just started creating vaccines and seeing significant changes. They could not afford to go through another pandemic at the time. By mid-2022, Mpox spread like wildfire. Thousands of cases were being reported from all around the globe. Approximately 100 countries had confirmed cases. While in most scenarios Mpox spread from animals to humans, this outbreak showed that the virus can be transmitted through human contact and intimacy. Mpox rekindled its flames again as a global threat to public health around mid-August of 2024. One major concern is that the variant of Mpox spreading right now is a more severe strain, namely Clade 1. An estimated 20,000 cases have been reported within Africa and around 3,000 cases internationally, with approximately 582 confirmed deaths. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Mpox as a ‘public health emergency of immediate concern’ (PHEIC). They reiterated the point that if this is not taken seriously and tended to urgently, we would face critical repercussions. The pressing question on everyone's mind is whether we are likely to face another pandemic or not. Social media platforms like Twitter have already started showing heated and mixed reactions since WHO announced the PHEIC. Many people have shared the horrors they faced during lockdown and how they wish to never relive the same. Others reminisce on the past, talking about how lockdown was a turning point in their life. At the moment, WHO has calmed the situation down by saying that Mpox is in no way the new COVID and that if handled properly, there is no need to panic. India, now in alert mode, has started developing RT-PCR tests for detecting Mpox within patients. Other countries have also started taking action and being more cautious about the situation. Going by these measures, if this outbreak of Mpox is adequately treated, risks of a future pandemic can greatly be reduced. The rebirth of Mpox is a potent reminder on how rapidly the spread of infectious diseases can disrupt everyday life. Though the situation remains fluid, it is important to note that all necessary precautions must be taken to live in a safe and sound environment. We must take the lessons we have learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and apply them to this situation so as to avoid the disastrous events of the past and come out stronger in the future.Almost A Pandemic
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Monkeypox virus under a microscope lens. Picture Courtesy: The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases via Unsplash
15 Sep 2024
Nayana Ittiyamoarampath
