Remember the chilling Covid era? Locked away in our homes, afraid of infection and death. As the lockdown continued to extend with no end in sight, the case count rose daily, while news and broadcasting media showed the derailing of the health system around the world. The world was terrified, yet we eventually emerged from the crisis; We emerged to party with our friends, hoping that such isolation would be confined to our memory
In the middle of July 2024, cases of Mpox began to rise in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The World Health Organization (WHO) on 14 August 2024 declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern. Many wondered “Is it Corona all over again? By the end of this blog, you will understand whether we have to start preparing for another lockdown.
Table of Contents
What is Mpox?
Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPVX). It belongs to the Poxviridae family, which also includes viruses like variola (small pox), cowpox, and vaccina. Since mpox and smallpox belong to the same family, some similarities are shared by them. Smallpox was eradicated in the 1970s, but mpox continues to exist. Mpox virus was first detected in 1958 in a rash sample from monkeys that were kept for research in Denmark. However, the main natural hosts, also known as reservoir hosts (animals that carry the virus without being affected), for the monkeypox virus are unknown. It is suspected that the reservoir host can be African rodents or small animals like squirrels found in Africa.
The first human case of Mpox was detected in a 9-month-old boy in the DRC. Aside from the zoonotic origin of transmission, human-to-human transmission can also occur through respiratory droplets, direct contact with skin lesions, sexual contact, and through contaminated fomites.
Can Mpox be the next pandemic?
Does the word “pandemic” haunt you? Mpox and SARS-CoV-2 are both viruses, and according to scientists, they are very harmful. Viruses are dangerous because they spread quickly and mutate quickly. It becomes hard to pin them down. Despite having many similarities, both the viruses significantly differ from each other; just like siblings in the same family tree, each one of them has a different set of qualities. To better understand the differences between Mpox and the coronavirus, consider the following points:
Transmission: SARS-CoV-2 mainly disseminates through tiny droplets and can survive for hours in them. In contrast, mpox spreads through saliva and respiratory secretion. If a person gets infected with coronavirus and exhales air, it can be easily inhaled by others, whereas the likelihood of inhaling body fluids, such as saliva, is significantly lower. Think about it, when you get in a bus/auto you are sharing everyones air, but not their fluids. This difference in transmission method signifies why coronavirus poses a higher risk of rapid transmission.
Symptoms and Timeline: Consider SARS-CoV-2 and mpox as two distinct types of storms. Coronavirus is fast-moving; it hits within 2–14 days after exposure, accompanied by symptoms like fever, chills, and dyspnea. Mpox is more like a slow-moving hurricane. It takes 3 weeks for mpox to expose its symptoms. While both the storms start with similar warning signs like fever and headache, mpox adds up with a painful, itchy rash. The rash usually starts on the face and then spreads across the entire body, or it may begin in areas of physical contact like the genitals.
Previous Knowledge and Treatments: When SARS-CoV-2 emerged in 2019, it was a completely new virus for scientists. With no treatment available, controlling the spread of the virus became difficult. On the other hand, Mpox isn’t new for the world; scientists have been researching it, vaccines have already been developed, and the situation in the DRC is currently much under control.
The rapid mutation of the coronavirus due to its higher transmission rate resulted in a pandemic. But mpox has a slower transmission rate, a longer incubation period, and a low to mild severity of symptoms. Which leads us to the conclusion that while Mpox may become endemic (occurring frequently in one area), its possibilities of becoming the next pandemic (occurring frequently everywhere) are very low.
Mpox and Society: The Bigger Picture
The COVID-19 epidemic has taught us how devastating it can be for children to be cut off from their education and normal routines. A familiar situation is now unfolding for the children of DRC, who have been forced to stay inside their homes due to the 75-times higher transmission rate of mpox among children of age less than 19 years. Being stuck inside your home, they feel like caged birds. Attending school and engaging in normal routines has become difficult for them.
Due to growing fear of the next pandemic, discrimination against gay men has significantly increased. The previous version of mpox was mainly spread among gay men; one man shared on social media:
“I was receiving a lot of homophobic abuse. Not just from straight people, but I was getting it from the LGBT community as well. So they were calling me disgusting, had I learnt nothing from COVID? Likening monkeypox to the AIDS crisis and all that kind of stuff.”
Mpox: A Call to Action
Staying updated and following the health guidelines is like using GPS when you are driving in unfamiliar terrain. Just like you rely on GPS for safety, following the guidelines will help you to protect yourself and others. As saw in COVID, ignoring these guidelines can be dangerous; just like turning off GPS in a risky area, you might miss a tun and end up in danger.
What COVID has taught us is that no one is safe until everyone is safe, and this is where community resilience, as seen during the COVID pandemic, can help to manage the situation. Communities can begin grassroots initiatives like assisting isolated older neighbors and distributing personal protective equipment; sharing accurate information about the outbreak.
General guidelines
With escalating concerns amongst people, it is usually the most asked question about the traveling norms or etiquette that one must follow to avoid contracting mpox. Well, the government has laid many norms for international travelers and international products that are listed below:
- Individuals should refrain from close contact with international travelers who are sick or have incurrable skin lesions.
- Such suspected person should be isolated and quarantined.
- Officials should closely monitor the animal products imported from African nations.
- Consuming uncooked meat should be avoided.
- Breeders should isolate their infected animal and avoid using clothing or bedding material for the infected person.
India’s approach to fight Mpox
On September 18, 2024, India reported its first mpox new variant case. According to the health ministry of India, there is no danger of mass transmission currently, but we need to be careful.
India is actively managing the spread of mpox through various strategies after detection of mpox. The health ministry has released a detailed advisory urging states and union territories to strengthen their public health facilities. The authorities have urged states/UT’s to strictly isolate the suspected case. Additionally, the government has asked to run a public awareness campaign to educate the public and prepare the laborities for quick and accurate testing of collected blood samples.
Conclusion
After humans triumphed over coronavirus, the emergence of Mpox sparked fear and raised questions about whether it could be the next pandemic. However, after carefully understanding all the scientific evidence, it can be clearly concluded that the possibility of mpox causing a pandemic is very low. To cause destruction as severe as coronavirus, a virus should have a high transmission rate, which will lead to a higher mutation rate, a shorter incubation period, and a longer time span for symptoms. Mpox fails in every ground. Although mpox is unlikely to become a pandemic, we must still prioritize our health and follow the guidelines to prevent contracting the pathogenic bug.
Author
Dr. Dhruv Gupta stands as a distinguished medical professional renowned for his expertise, particularly in [specific medical field]. His significant contributions extend into the forefront of healthcare innovation, where he has emerged as a pioneering advocate for e-pharmacy solutions. Dr. Gupta’s visionary leadership in integrating technology and pharmaceutical services has reshaped the landscape of healthcare delivery. As a proactive participant in the telemedicine realm, he has demonstrated a commitment to enhancing patient care and accessibility to medications through digital platforms. Beyond his clinical practice, Dr. Gupta is actively engaged in medical education, often sharing his insights as a speaker at conferences. His patient-centric approach ensures that individuals benefit from convenient and reliable access to necessary medications, marking him as a key figure at the intersection of healthcare and technology.
