The WHO issued a high alert for the viral mpox virus that will become deadly or dangerous for the African continent and other countries. This year mpox virus outbreak started in Congo and according to the reports it killed at least 450 individuals. Recently in Sweden and Pakistan early cases of mpox were reported.
MPOX Virus Outbreak
Mpox, previously also known as Monkeypox, is a viral infection caused by the mpox virus (MPXV) which has a strong relationship with smallpox or other poxviruses such as cowpox.
The World Health Organisation has announced the mpox virus outbreak, a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, because it is coming back for the second time after the July 2022 and May 2023 outbreaks.
According to a report from the WHO since 2022, a maximum of 99,000 mpox virus cases and 200 infected individuals’ deaths have been reported in 116 countries.
It is expected that the virus will be rapidly spread in the whole African continent and it will become a globally risk. The Mpox virus transmitted through the animals and infected humana to others. The early symptoms include fever, headache and Swollen lymph nodes in the whole body.
What is mpox and what are the symptoms of it?
Mpox is a viral disease that is mainly dangerous for humans and animals. It belongs to the orthopoxvirus genus group. The monkeypox virus was firstly discovered in Denmark in 1958 from monkeys. The virus firstly infected a human in 1970 in a nine month baby boy in Congo.
In infected individuals a small rash with bumps or blisters appears on the skin after that the fluid or pus will fill in the bumps. It is just like small pox or other poxviruses such as cowpox and vaccinia. The symptoms of mpox virus outbreak is listed below.
- Fever
- Headache
- Weakness or feeling tired
- Muscle aches
- Back pain
- Low energy
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Pox-like rashes
The most symptoms can be seen in infected individuals within 21 days. If an individual has a strong immune system then he will recover within two to three weeks. It will become deadly or dangerous for individuals who have weaker immune systems.
Mpox virus is normally transmitted via direct contact with infected individuals or by using an infected person’s things such as clothes, footwear, gloves, etc. so it is advised that keep yourself away from infected persons.
How does the Mpox virus spread?
According to the previous season of this outbreak this harmful disease spread through several ways such as close personal contact with an infected individual, skin to skin touch, touch on the rashes, saliva or mucus of an infected person, etc.
According to the resources the basic reason for this virus spreading also include a strong contact with the infected animals such as if an individual hunts, traps, touches, eats then it is expected that the person will become an infected individual in future.
The main reason for spreading the previous version of mpox clade II that came throughout the world in 2022 is the sexual contact between female to male or in those males who have some sexual contact with other males.
Is mpox virus outbreak harmful for India?
The first case of mpox was reported in Africa after that in Sweden and Pakistan it was reported.
In the 2022 outbreak of mpox clade I was more dangerous and deadlier than clade II. The individuals who were slightly I’ll or infected with Clade I were dead in history. In Karela, India several cases of clade II had been seen in 2022 but those cases were not as deadly.
Tamil Nadu’s Director of Public Health India ordered their country’s health officials to manage a high screening of foreign individuals or people who come back from the African region. It was to create a shield of safety in the country because of the implementation of such activities, no cases reported in the state.
Recently the government made it clear that they put the cities of Hyderabad and New Delhi on high alert because an individual’s life is very valuable and important. Keep in mind that the recent outbreak has a lower death rate. From 22,000 reported cases only 1200 individuals died so it is stated that this wave of mpox virus outbreak is less dangerous than earlier.
