Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The global health community is once again on high alert as Mpox resurges in 2024, this time affecting a much broader demographic than the 2022 outbreak, according to a recent Lancet report. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is currently at the center of this outbreak, but the virus has now spread far beyond Africa, raising international concerns, especially with the emergence of a new and more transmissible strain, Clade 1b.
The report highlights that health authorities worldwide are facing significant challenges in containing the virus. The situation is exacerbated by limited vaccine availability, inadequate testing, and the need to manage multiple ongoing public health threats. On August 14, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Similarly, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declared it a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS).
Clade 1b of the Mpox virus is particularly alarming due to its higher transmissibility and the potential for more severe clinical outcomes, according to the report. An epidemic intelligence report from Africa CDC revealed that since the beginning of 2024, there have been 18,737 Mpox cases (3,101 confirmed and 15,636 suspected) across 12 African countries, leading to 541 deaths. This represents a significant increase compared to 2023, where 14,838 cases (1,665 confirmed and 13,173 suspected) and 738 confirmed deaths were reported across seven countries.
Unlike the 2022 outbreak, which predominantly affected men who have sex with men, the current outbreak is impacting a broader range of people, including men, women, and children. In the DRC, Mpox cases have been reported in all 26 provinces, with children under 15 years old accounting for 66% of the reported cases and over 82% of the deaths.
Merawi Aragaw Tegegne, Acting Head of the Division of Emergency Preparedness and Response at Africa CDC, emphasized the endemic nature of Mpox in the region, stating that “with endemic diseases, exposure is inevitable.” However, the full extent of the outbreak remains unclear due to a severe lack of testing and surveillance, particularly in the DRC, where only about 30% of cases might be tested.
Dimie Ogoina, Chair of WHO’s International Health Regulations (IHR) Committee, highlighted the critical testing challenges, especially in the DRC, further complicating efforts to control the outbreak.
While there have been no reported cases of Mpox in India, the government is closely monitoring the situation. Mpox is a viral disease that manifests through symptoms such as fever, headaches, muscle aches, and painful skin boils.
