Is it concerning that WHO declared a global emergency for mpox?

A health worker carefully handles a test sample tube, labeled 'monkeypox', while wearing gloves to prevent any potential spread of the virus. The World Health Organization has recently declared a global health emergency due to a new strain of monkeypox spreading rapidly in Africa, and health officials in the UK are preparing for its potential arrival.

As of now, there are no reported cases of monkeypox in the UK, and the risk to the British population is currently low, according to the UK Health Security Agency. However, they are taking precautions and planning for any potential cases that may arise.

This includes making sure clinicians are aware of the virus and able to recognize it quickly, providing rapid testing capabilities, and developing protocols for the safe care of infected individuals to prevent further transmission.

But what exactly is monkeypox? It is a virus that was first identified in monkeys in 1958, and until recently, was mostly seen in central and West Africa in people who had close contact with infected animals.

Symptoms of monkeypox are similar to those of smallpox, but milder, including fever, chills, and body aches. In more severe cases, people can develop lesions on their face, hands, chest, and genitals. While usually not life-threatening, it can be fatal in certain populations such as children, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems.

The virus is spread through close physical contact, including sexual contact, kissing, cuddling, or holding hands. However, the new strain of monkeypox, known as clade 1b, is causing concern as it seems to spread more easily between people and has already caused outbreaks in over 70 countries.

The first European case of clade 1b was recently detected in Sweden, and the UK Health Security Agency is on high alert for any potential cases. They are currently no reported cases in the UK, but they are preparing for any potential cases by ensuring clinicians are aware of the virus, providing rapid testing, and developing protocols for safe care of infected individuals.

The World Health Organization has declared this outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, as the virus has been spreading rapidly in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring countries. So far in 2024, there have been over 17,000 cases and 517 deaths reported.

Experts are concerned about the new strain of monkeypox, as it is associated with more severe symptoms and higher mortality rates than the strain responsible for the global outbreak in 2022. The UK dealt with a large outbreak in 2022, mostly in men who have sex with men, and a vaccination program was launched to contain it.

While there are vaccines available for monkeypox, they are only recommended for those at high risk of contracting the virus. For those outside of areas affected by the current outbreak, the risk remains low. Vaccines are being secured for countries in Africa, but it may take some time for them to reach the Democratic Republic of Congo and for vaccination campaigns to begin.

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