The World Health Organization defines a pandemic as a worldwide spread of a new disease. According to some assumptions, pandemics occur every 100 years such as the Plague of the 18th century, the Cholera outbreak of the 19th century, the Spanish Flu of the 20th century, and the Coronavirus of the 21st century. The outcomes of COVID-19 were drastic on economies, politics, societies, and the health of people. The world has not yet fully recovered from this pandemic but there are now growing concerns about mpox previously known as MonkeyPox or Mpox.
Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease, which means it can spread in both animals and humans. It was first identified in 1958 in monkeys hence named “monkeypox.” The virus is a member of the orthopoxvirus genus—the same family to which variola belongs which causes smallpox; it is not related to chickenpox. The monkeypox virus was first spread by rodents and small mammals. In 1970, it affected the first human in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, during a period of extreme efforts to eradicate smallpox.
For decades, monkeypox was largely confined to the rainforest of Africa. It belongs to two important clades; Clade I which originated in Central Africa and Clade II which appeared in West Africa. In recent years, monkeypox has garnered increased attention due to outbreaks outside Africa, in countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, etc. The current breakout of monkeypox is caused by Clade IIb—a sub-type of the less severe West African Clade.
World Health Organization (WHO) announced the renaming of the virus as mpox in November 2022. It is the responsibility of the WHO under the “International Classification of Disease” to assign names to new diseases or to rename existing diseases (a rare occurrence). This decision was made to mitigate the concerns raised by experts and people about the confusion caused by the name. As monkeypox is not primarily caused by monkeys, the name led to inappropriate conclusions. It was an effort by WHO to ensure that disease names do not cause cultural, social, and religious offenses. “Mpox” can also be used in other languages as well.
Signs and Symptoms of Mpox
Symptoms of mpox include fever, rash, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, and more. The rash starts as bumps that turn into blisters filled with pus. Different people face different symptoms. Symptoms typically last for two to four weeks but may last longer in someone with a weakened immune system.
Transmission
As mpox is a viral disease, it spreads easily by close contact with sores, lesions, respiratory droplets, or sexual activities. As liberals and LGBTQ activists are promoting homosexual activities, there are concerns about the wider spread of mpox as most of the cases that were reported from 2022 to 2023 were identified among gay and bisexual men. Similarly, people having multiple or new sex partners are more at risk of catching this infectious disease. Sexual contact including skin and mucosal contact is the most viral mechanism of transmission of mpox.
How is the World Reacting to the outbreak of the mpox virus?
No country remained unaffected by the coronavirus pandemic, yet significant disparities occurred in the number of infected people and fatalities. These variations depended on how different countries reacted and implemented distant policies to address the crisis. Developed countries imposed strict restrictions and lockdowns while developing countries faced greater challenges and limitations.
Mpox is in its initial stages and now, nations are reacting to it differently than they would have in the past. When COVID-19 started, it did not bother anyone, but soon, it pushed nations into undeniable calamity. Countries are now concerned about the spread of mpox mainly due to the psychological impacts of the recent pandemic.
The first global outbreak of mpox, which occurred in 2022, was caused by Clade II, which resulted in more than 90,000 cases in 115 non-endemic countries. But now a variant of Clade I is spreading internationally and is presumed more fatal. WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern about the global outbreak of mpox on August 14, 2024. This announcement was made after Africa’s CDC declared a national public health emergency. This new variant has surfaced in the DRC and other countries across the globe as well. On August 15, 2024, Sweden reported its first-ever case of mpox.
In America, the Biden-Harris administration established a response structure across federal departments after the global outbreak of Clade I in Congo in February. There are no cases at this time, but the US is still preparing to combat this virus. The country is prepared to diagnose, contain, and manage through rigorous infection prevention and control systems. The existing surveillance system, including wastewater testing and expanded diagnostic capacities, has been strengthened to detect both Clade I and Clade II in the USA.
From August 2022 to August 2024, over one million vials of the JYNNOES vaccine, or the “mpox vaccine” have been distributed across the USA. The CDC has issued enhanced recommendations for travelers to the DRC and neighboring countries. At this time, CDC and WHO are not discouraging tours to DRC or elsewhere due to mpox. The US Government has been providing assistance to Africa to combat diseases like tuberculosis, HIV, and malaria for the past two decades, and in December 2023, the US allocated more than $2.5 billion to Central and East African countries in health funding. Since March 2024, USAID and CDC have allocated an additional $20 million. On August 20, USAID announced an aid of $35 million for emergency health.
Countries in Asia are also monitoring mpox cases closely. China has announced the strengthening of surveillance at both ports and airports. People coming from infected regions or having symptoms and cargo from countries with the mpox outbreak will be sanitized according to the General Administration of Customs. These significant precautionary measures were implemented on August 15, 2024, and will remain for the next 6 months. As China is blamed for the birth and spread of COVID-19, it is now tightening surveillance efforts that reflect its commitment to combat the spread of mpox.
Japan has prepared a medical care system to gather and share information about infected situations in countries with mpox cases. The Japanese Government has also planned to increase awareness among people entering and leaving Japan. In response to the request from the Congo, Japan has announced to send the LC16 Japanese-made vaccine.
South Korean authorities have tightened surveillance and quarantine measures. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency declared that the situation is manageable but still preventive measures should be taken.
On August 23, 2024, Pakistan reported two cases of mpox in Peshawar. Since 2022, Pakistan has reported a total of 12 cases. There are claims that the strain of mpox in Pakistan belongs to Clade IIb and is different from the DRC strain. WHO and Pakistan have vowed to work together in this venture. WHO has agreed to support the Pakistani Government in lab testing, distribution of the kits, and surveillance of entry points. The Health Minister of Pakistan has instructed national and provincial authorities to stay on high alert.
In this globalized world, any event in the East can have ripple effects on the people of the West. Though mpox is not widespread now, keeping in view the impacts of COVID and negligence, governments all over the world are taking steps to ensure the eradication of the disease at its initial level. By employing and improving strategies that were adopted during the COVID pandemic, countries are confident to manage this virus effectively.
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Eman Fatima is currently pursuing her Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Government College University Lahore. She has a keen interest in understanding the complexities of global politics and the dynamics that shape international interactions.