Janice R. Andrews
Monkeypox, often known as mpox, has been formally designated as a worldwide health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO). Significant outbreaks in the Congo and other African countries have raised worries about the spread of this worrying phenomenon. While other European nations prepare for an increase in imported cases of mpox, Sweden recently discovered a novel strain of the virus in a tourist that had only been observed in Africa. Here’s a closer look at the possibility that mpox might spread to other countries and how worried we should be.
Is It Possible for Mpox to Cause Another Pandemic?
It is extremely improbable, according to experts, that mpox would trigger another pandemic. The primary ways that mpox spreads are through close skin-to-skin contact with infected patients or exposure to contaminated clothes and bedding. This is in contrast to swine flu or COVID-19, which are airborne and may spread quickly through asymptomatic individuals. People are less inclined to get into close contact with people when they have the virus since it frequently causes obvious skin sores.
Public health professionals advise against personal contact with people exhibiting mpox signs, such as skin lesions, and to exercise proper hygiene, such as frequent hand washing, in order to prevent infection. It’s also best to avoid sharing personal belongings with an infected individual, such as clothing, bedding, or cutlery.
Although imported cases from Africa are “highly likely,” there is still little likelihood of significant local epidemics in Europe, according to a statement released on Friday by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. According to scientists, there is now little risk to the general public in nations where there are no ongoing mpox epidemics.
Differences Between Mpox and COVID-19?
Compared to COVID-19, mpox spreads significantly more slowly. Within months of its discovery, the coronavirus caused a global health crisis, with hundreds of cases rising to thousands in only a few weeks. Three months after the virus was discovered, in March 2020, the World Health Organization proclaimed COVID-19 to be a pandemic, with over 126,000 cases and 4,600 fatalities worldwide.
Mpox, on the other hand, has a far slower rate of transmission. Almost 100,000 infections and 200 fatalities have been reported worldwide since the outbreak started in 2022. Unlike in the early days of COVID-19, vaccinations and therapies for mpox are now accessible.
The Global Health Institute director at Duke University, Dr. Chris Beyrer, underlined, “We have what we need to stop mpox. We did not have the same circumstances during COVID-19, when neither a vaccination nor an antiviral treatment was available.”
Are the Present Mpox Epidemics Containable?
It’s unclear how soon the current mpox outbreaks will be contained. Vaccination measures and antiviral medications, especially in wealthier nations, effectively halted the global pandemic in 2022, which extended to more than 70 countries.
Nonetheless, the Congo, one of the world’s poorest nations, is home to 96% of the current cases of mpox. The measles, cholera, and starvation have already overtaken Congo’s already precarious healthcare system, which has found it difficult to contain the outbreak. Congo has not received the 4 million immunizations it has requested.
Even though the WHO has declared mpox a worldwide emergency, vaccinations and therapies for the disease are still mostly unavailable in Africa. Declaring, “We are actually in a good place to get control of this pandemic, but we have to make the decision to prioritize Africa,” Dr. Beyrer emphasizes the significance of giving Africa first priority in attempts to contain the disease.
In conclusion, mpox is a worldwide health issue, but it is far less likely to start another pandemic due to its unique traits and the availability of vaccinations. To control the virus and stop its future spread, however, international collaboration and support for impacted areas, especially in Africa, will be essential.
