Category: Monkey Pox

usatoday.com wants to ensure the best experience for all of our readers, so we built our site to take advantage of the latest technology, making it faster and easier to use.

Unfortunately, your browser is not supported. Please download one of these browsers for the best experience on usatoday.com

Here is the original post:

What is mpox? Is the virus in the US? Heres everything to know. - USA TODAY

But, what is it, where did it come from and how can the world deal with the threat, which inevitably raises the spectre of pandemics past such as COVID-19 and the early spread of HIV infections?

Heres what you need to know:

Mpox lesions often appear on the palms of hands. (file)

Formerly known as monkeypox, the viral diseasecan spread between people, mainly through close contact, and occasionally from the environment to people via objects and surfaces that have been touched by a person with mpox.

Originating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970, mpox was neglected there, according to WHO.

It is time to act decisively to prevent history from repeating itself, said Dimie Ogoina, who chairs theInternational Health Regulations Emergency Committee, which advises WHO on such matters.

Endemic in central and West Africa, the infectious disease later caused a global outbreak in 2022, leading to a WHO public health emergency in July as it became a multi-country outbreak.

Following a series of consultations with global experts, WHO has begun using a new preferred term mpox as a synonym for monkeypox. Find out more about that decision here.

CDC/Cynthia S. Goldsmith

Mpox is similar to the eradicated smallpox virus. (file)

Common symptoms of mpox include a rash lasting for two to four weeks, which may be started with or followed by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.

The rash looks like blisters and can affect the face, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, groin, genital and/or anal regions, mouth, throat or the eyes. The number of sores can range from one to several thousand.

People with mpox are considered infectious at least until all their blisters have crusted over, the scabs have fallen off and a new layer of skin has formed underneath, and all lesions on the eyes and in the body have healed. Typically this takes two to four weeks. Reports show that people can be re-infected after theyve had mpox.

People with severe mpox may require hospitalisation, supportive care and antiviral medicines to reduce the severity of lesions and shorten time to recovery.

CDC: NHS England High Consequence infectious Diseases Network

WHO continues to work with patients and community advocates to develop and deliver information tailored to communities affected by monkeypox.

Human to human: Touching, sex and talking or breathing close to someone with mpox can generate infectious respiratory particles, but more research is needed on how the virus spreads during outbreaks in different settings and conditions, says WHO.

What scientists do know is that it is also possible for the virus to persist for some time on clothing, bedding, towels, objects, electronics and surfaces that have been touched by a person with mpox. Someone else who is in contact with these items may become infected without first washing their hands before touching their eyes, nose and mouth.

The virus can also spread during pregnancy to the fetus, during or after birth through skin-to-skin contact, or from a parent with mpox to an infant or child during close contact.

Although getting mpox from someone who is asymptomatic has been reported, there is still limited information on whether the virus can be transmitted from someone with the virus before they get symptoms or after their lesions have healed.

Humans to animals: Since many species of animals are known to be susceptible to the virus, there is the potential for spillback of the virus from humans to animals in different settings.

People who have confirmed or suspected mpox should avoid close physical contact with animals, including such pets as cats, dogs, hamsters and gerbils, as well as livestock and wildlife.

Animals to humans: Someone who comes into physical contact with an animal which carries the virus, such as some species of monkey - or a terrestrial rodent like a tree squirrel - may also develop mpox. Such exposure can occur through bites or scratches, or during activities such as hunting, skinning, trapping or preparing a meal. The virus can also be caught through eating contaminated meat which is not cooked thoroughly.

A health worker checks on a two-year-old being treated for mpox north of Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Yes, for a small minority. Between 0.1 per cent and 10 per cent of people who have become infected with mpox, have died.

It is important to note that death rates in different settings may differ due to several factors, such as access to health care and underlying immunosuppression, including because of undiagnosed HIV or advanced HIV, according to the UN health agency.

In most cases, the symptoms of mpox go away on their own within a few weeks with supportive care, such as medication for pain or fever, but, in some people, the illness can be severe or lead to complications and eventual death.

Newborn babies, children, people who are pregnant and people with underlying immune deficiencies - such as from advanced HIV - may be at higher risk of more serious mpox disease and death.

A single-dose of the mpox vaccine.

Yes. The UN health agency recommends several vaccines for use against mpox. However, mass vaccination, which rolled out during the COVID-19 global pandemic, is not currently recommended.

Many years of research have led to the development of newer and safer vaccines for the now eradicated disease smallpox. Some of these vaccines have been approved in various countries for use against mpox.

At present, WHO recommends use of MVA-BN or LC16 vaccines, or the ACAM2000 vaccine when the others are not available.

Only people who are at risk of exposure to mpox should be considered for vaccination, according to WHO. Travellers who may be at risk based on an individual risk assessment with their healthcare provider, may wish to consider vaccination.

One of the ways to prevent mpox from spreading is washing your hands after touching contaminated surfaces.

Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces or objects and cleaning your hands after touching surfaces or objects that may be contaminated can help prevent transmission.

The risk of getting mpox from animals can be reduced by avoiding unprotected contact with wild animals, especially those that are sick or dead, including their meat and blood.

In countries where animals carry the virus, any food containing animal parts or meat should be cooked thoroughly before eating.

Learn more about mpoxhere.

Original post:

Mpox: What you need to know about the latest public health emergency - UN News

Mpox cases are rising in South Florida as a new variant is causing concerns overseas.

Doctors say the new Clade 1 variant is deadlier and seems to be spreading faster than Clade 2 did during anoutbreak in 2022, that spread across the world, including South Florida.

Unlike Clade 2, Dr. Jyoti Somani of Jackson Health Systems says 75% of cases involving Clade 1 are in children.

It seems to be much closer contact, not necessarily intimate contact, said Dr. Somani. The death rate historically has been higher at about 10 percent compared to Clade 2.

Dr. Somani says the new variant also produces a rash that seems to spread across the body whereas rashes due to Clade 2 were in limited areas of the body.

Other symptoms can include fever, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, headache, and respiratory symptoms.

Last week, the World Health Organization declared an emergency due to the spread of Clade 1, which originated out of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa. At least one case has now been reported in Sweden.

Dr. Somani says South Florida could be more susceptible to disease spread because its an international destination.

Robert Boo, the CEO of the Pride Center at Equality Park is already preparing to use grant funding to launch an awareness campaign and conduct town halls, like they did in 2022.

Its a matter of time, said Boo. Our goal is to reach, at a minimum 26,000 individuals. Mpox is still an issue for not just the LGBTQ community. It is for the entire community.

The Florida Department of Health has not activated any health advisories but tells NBC6 there is plenty of vaccine supply if needed.

Although the new variant has yet to be recorded in Florida, Mpox Clade 2 cases are already eclipsing last years numbers. As of Monday, Miami-Dade is reporting 48 cases and Broward is reporting 23 cases.

Still, its a far cry from the hundreds of cases in both counties just two years ago.

We are prepared, we have the vaccine so we should be able to keep this under control, Dr. Somani said.

View post:

Mpox cases on the rise in South Florida: How the newest variant differs from the one in 2022 - NBC Miami

NewsFeed

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says mpox has been detected in at least 13 African countries, and cases have been confirmed in other continents, too. How can people protect themselves?

Published On 19 Aug 202419 Aug 2024

Read more:

What is mpox and how do you protect yourself? - Al Jazeera English

pnj.com wants to ensure the best experience for all of our readers, so we built our site to take advantage of the latest technology, making it faster and easier to use.

Unfortunately, your browser is not supported. Please download one of these browsers for the best experience on pnj.com

Read this article:

WHO issued a global emergency to curb an mpox outbreak. Is it another pandemic? - Pensacola News Journal

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the growing mpox outbreak, formerly known as Monkeypox, a public health emergency of international concern.

The mpox outbreak originated in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and is spreading rapidly across central Africa. On August 15, a case was confirmed in Europesparking memory of the 2022 mpox outbreak that impacted 122 countries.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is scaling up our response in affected communities to help prevent the spread of the disease and help those affected survive, recover and rebuild their lives.

Mpox is a virus found primarily in central and western Africa that can infect humans and animals. Last year, a more severe strain of the diseaseknown as clade 1bwas identified in the DRC and is now spreading rapidly across the region.

The DRC has recorded more than 12,000 suspected mpox cases and 447 deaths between January and mid-July 2024. The disease has also spread to other countries where the IRC operates including Burundi, Kenya and Ugandaand to Europe.

Symptoms of mpox include fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion and a distinctive rash that can look like pimples or blisters. Previous outbreaks of clade 1 mpox have had a mortality rate of 10%.

Mpox can spread through direct contact with an infected person or animal, as well as through direct contact with materials contaminated by the virus.

Dr. Silas examines a patient at the IRCs Hagadera Refugee Camp Hospital in Kenya, where the IRC has been providing services to displaced people since 2009.

Photo: Fahmo Mohammed for the IRC

The CDC warns that people with weakened immune systems, young children, individuals with a history of eczema and those who are pregnant are particularly at risk of mpox. The IRC is also deeply concerned about the wellbeing of displaced people, who often lack access to the water, sanitation and health care facilities needed to prevent the spread of disease and stay safe.

The IRC is monitoring the mpox outbreak in Africa and has launched responses in the DRC and Burundi. Our teams are also preparing to scale up our response in countries like Kenya and Uganda if necessary.

The DRC is bearing the brunt of the global mpox outbreak. Protracted displacement and a weakened health system have created conditions conducive to the rapid spread of the virus.

As of August 12, 2024, the North Kivu Ministry of Health had reported 300 suspected cases and 54 confirmed cases, including 21 cases in three camps [housing displaced communities]. In the face of these challengeslack of awareness about Mpox among the population, the absence of prevention mechanisms, and the shortage of on-the-ground actorsthe IRC is conducting awareness-raising activities and measures to prevent and control the spread of infection, says Heather Kerr, IRC country director in DRC.

The IRCs response will focus on supporting displaced people living in three camps near the city of Goma in eastern DRC.

Our efforts will include:

Learn more about our work in the DRC.

Mapendo, an IRC client, runs a small business in the Don Bosco Ngani camp for displaced people, just outside Goma, DRC. The IRC is providing services in camps for displaced people where access to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities are often limited.

Photo: Mireille Ngwamba for the IRC

Heavy seasonal rains in April 2024, exacerbated by the El Nio weather pattern, caused severe flooding that impacted nearly 250,000 people and led to a cholera outbreak in several provinces of Burundi. Conditions in the country have left families exceptionally vulnerable to the spread of mpox.

In response to the escalating mpox outbreak, the IRC is scaling up its emergency response in Burundi by:

Learn more about our work in Burundi.

Flooding in Burundi displaced approximately 50,000 people in 2024. Mpox spreads more easily in communities that lack reliable access to water, sanitation and hygiene services.

Photo: UNOCHA/Camille Marquis

The IRC is on the ground supporting communities affected by mpox in the DRC and Burundi. We are monitoring the spread of the disease and are prepared to scale up our services in places like Kenya and Ugandawhere the IRC is already providing support.

Link:

What is mpox and how can we prevent its spread? - International Rescue Committee

On Aug. 14, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified Mpox virus, which is surging across several African countries, as a public health emergency of international concern. This action will help mobilize global and regional public health resources to better monitor and respond to the threats posed.

Naturally, in the wake of COVID-19, this has many people worried were about to relive the collective trauma of lockdowns and fears of acquiring a potentially deadly virus. As an epidemiologist who studies the intersection of infectious diseases and social life, I share these concerns, but, at this point, I believe the WHOs announcement should raise caution, not cause panic.

Mpox, once referred to as monkeypox, is a virus that causes flu-like symptoms and skin blisters across the body. Fortunately, the virus is mostly spread through direct contact with infected lesions or bodily fluids, or through contaminated materials like bedding. This means it is not typically as contagious as respiratory diseases such as COVID. However, it can also spread through respiratory droplets, although this only typically occurs with prolonged close contact in areas with limited ventilation.

These characteristics explain why historically Mpox outbreaks have typically been limited to densely interconnected sexual networks and in venues where physical contact may be prolonged, such as in night clubs.

However, the current situation in Africa is showing that some of these characteristics are changing. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighbouring countries, it appears that a more deadly, more virulent version of the virus arising from a strain referred to as Clade 2 is taking hold. This is evidenced by the fact that several African countries that had not previously seen transmission are now seeing increased spread.

As well, public health officials note transmission in children, suggesting that this more virulent form may require less physical contact than we observed in the transmission of Clade 1, which caused a global outbreak in 2022.

There is also evidence this strain is more deadly, with mortality rates of between three and five per cent, which considerably exceeds the average mortality rate of COVID-19.

With all this in mind, its natural to ask, Should we be worried?

At the moment, the WHOs actions indicate that the international public health community should pay attention and prepare for a possible large-scale international outbreak of Mpox something it has failed to do in recent decades.

Most importantly, its declaration allows for enhanced global collaboration to monitor the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and surrounding countries. It also makes it possible to prioritize the availability of vaccines in those regions to bring viral transmission under control.

We are fortunate, in Canada, to have an excellent public health surveillance system and to have some access to vaccine supplies for Mpox. The existing Mpox vaccines are safe and effective. Currently, their use is prioritized for high-risk populations, such as gay and bisexual men and people employed in sex work.

If transmission begins in other populations, it is likely that production of the Mpox vaccine could be increased and supplies would be more broadly available to meet demand and need. But it is important to note that redirecting those vaccines will limit their availability to African countries that lack the necessary biomanufacturing capacity to produce them.

As well, Canada is fortunate to have world-class medical facilities that can provide necessary treatment and care to people who might experience vulnerability to Mpox virus. All of these factors suggest that Canada will be well equipped to respond to potential outbreaks, provided, of course, that we all do our part.

Perhaps the most valuable insight and lesson from this situation is the importance of global health equity. Mpox has been endemic in African countries for decades first attracting attention in the 1960s and 1970s. Our global failure to address the transmission sooner has directly contributed to the threats we are facing today.

Allowing uncontrolled spread of a virus as potentially dangerous as Mpox has been a massive public health failure especially since there are effective vaccines that could lead to the eradication of Mpox if appropriately used.

This of course is not the first time weve learned the importance of health equity. During the 2022 outbreak of Mpox, which primarily affected gay and bisexual men, it is clear that transmission only halted because communities worked closely with public health officials. Individuals took action to limit their personal risk and public health systems helped fund awareness and vaccine promotion efforts.

The same level of collaboration among communities at high risk will be needed should this new more virulent strain of Mpox reach the global stage.

While the current situation with Mpox is concerning, there is not yet any reason to panic.

However, as the situation develops, we must pay attention to the advice of public health leaders and be ready to take appropriate actions. In doing so, we must be especially ready to adopt a reasoned public health response that prioritizes vaccines for the communities that need them the most.

Read the original:

The WHO has declared Mpox a public health emergency of international concern. Is it time to worry? - The Conversation

Its been a bad month for public health.

On August 14, the World Health Organization declared mpox as an international health emergency, given the unprecedented spread of a new, more deadly variant. In the United States, bird flu, formally known as H5N1, has spread to 10 agricultural workers in Colorado, an alarming development since only three other cases have been reported this year.

Mpox and bird flu are distinct infectious diseases; however, they have been united by assumptions that containment is easily achievable and thus a complacent public health response. Indeed, almost 100,000 people got infected with mpox after the 2022 outbreak, and while the disease shrinked away from public view, mpox continued to spread and evolve into deadlier variants. Similarly, while bird flu first jumped into mammals around the same time in 2022, the response in the U.S. was anemic with little consistent messaging or concrete action.

This is part of a larger inertia around infectious diseasesone we believe is driven by two key factors.

First, public health leaders have grown overly cautious after the COVID-19 pandemic, seeing how bold efforts to contain the pandemic were met with anti-science aggression, populist outrage, relentless lawsuits, and at least 30 states limiting public health powers. The impending U.S. elections have added to the polarization and disinformation. As such, instead of proactive action, we are seeing trepidation.

Second, there is a sense that another pandemic cannot happen so soon after COVID-19that these infectious diseases will inevitably burn themselves out like before. This is a gamblers fallacy, and because of it, the U.S. may be underestimating the risks posed by mpox and bird flu, allowing two potential pandemics to brew on the global stage.

This has manifested in several failures for both diseases. For instance, the U.S. saw 1800 mpox cases between October 2023 and April 2024, while the more dangerous Clade 1b variant, which combines efficient sexual transmission with high mortality, started to spread in Africa. However, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stopped updating their mpox outbreak case count in January, downplaying this added threat since case counts were not yet increasing. The CDC restarted the public reporting in May, suggesting its discontinuation may have been overly expedient and optimistic.

Our mpox global health response mirrors such underestimation and delayed action. On August 7, the U.S. announced that it was donating 50,000 vaccines to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, almost a year after Clade 1b was first reported there. For reference, Africa CDC estimates it needs 10 million doses to control the current outbreak on the continent. In 2022, the U.S. failed to tackle mpox while it was confined to Africa, dragging its feet until the disease was spreading uncontrollably at home; we are seeing history repeat itself in 2024.

Read More: Health Experts are Watching a More Dangerous Version of Mpox

For bird flu, the mortality rate can be as high as 52%, given WHO case data. But as the New York Times noted, Only recently has the [CDC] begun to mobilize real funding for a testing push, after a period of months in which various federal groups batted around responsibility and ultimate authority like a hot potato. In the U.S., ignorance is bliss, with our public health leaders rolling the dice that this too shall pass.

So, perhaps we shouldnt be surprised that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) detected bird flu in cattle four months after it happened, or that the agency has not required routine testing of cattle (unless they cross state lines) nor vaccination of farmworkers. While decisions to leave these programs voluntary are multifactorial, they are likely influenced by political reticence after COVID-19 and recent Supreme Court rulings striking down vaccination requirements.

To be clear, the pandemic risk of mpox or bird flu is currently low. The transmission dynamics of mpox, requiring very close contact, make it more difficult to spread than SARS-CoV-2. Similarly, cases of bird flu have thus far been mild and limited in number. However, these are not absolute truths, but day-by-day assessments, which require real preparednessmeasured in testing, ongoing surveillance, and forward planning.

We have no easy answers for overcoming public health paralysis. But at minimum, the U.S. needs better public health communication that not only emphasizes transparency but also holds our leaders accountable. Bringing this COVID-19-era lesson to mpox and bird flu is one way to give Americans a new, positive memory of public health, fostering early, decisive action and realistic risk assessments.

With two rapidly evolving outbreaks, we cannot afford trepidation and false optimism. And, even as we work to make the U.S. safer, we cannot forget our global obligations to share vaccines, medicines, and resources. Global crises require global solidarity and collective action.

See original here:

Its Time to Start Taking Mpox and Bird Flu Seriously - TIME

On 14 August, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the simian smallpox epidemic, known as Mpox, to be an international health emergency following an outbreak of cases in Africa. The next day, a case was reported in Sweden.

Monkeypox is an infectious disease caused by a virus transmitted to humans by infected animals, but it can also be transmitted from human to human through close physical contact. Smallpox is characterized by a rash or skin lesions generally concentrated on the face, hands and feet.

In most cases, the disease heals spontaneously within two or three weeks.

Click here for complete information on symptoms and WHO advice in the event of transmission.

Africa is facing the spread of a new strain of the virus, detected in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in September 2023 and dubbed clade Ib, which is more deadly and transmissible than previous strains.

According to the WHO, more than 15,600 cases and 537 deaths have been reported since the beginning of the year in the DRC, already exceeding last years total. The mortality rate remains below 4%.

The DRC and other African countries have been experiencing Mpox outbreaks for over ten years.

In July 2022, WHO had already issued a global alert following an outbreak of cases. These alerts are used to coordinate responses and contain epidemics.

On 6 August, WHO urged countries to share tools such as vaccines and apply lessons learned from previous public health emergencies of international concern to address the current epidemic.

WHO encourages all countries to strengthen surveillance, share data and work to better understand the transmission of the virus.

There are two licensed and effective vaccines against Mpox.

Several studies have shown that vaccination against classic smallpox is 85% effective in preventing Mpox. Previous smallpox vaccination may result in less severe disease. However, the smallpox vaccine has not been administered since the disease was eradicated in 1980.

Read more from the original source:

Mpox or monkeypox: what you need to know - United Nations Western Europe - United Nations - Europe News

tennessean.com wants to ensure the best experience for all of our readers, so we built our site to take advantage of the latest technology, making it faster and easier to use.

Unfortunately, your browser is not supported. Please download one of these browsers for the best experience on tennessean.com

Read more here:

Is monkeypox in the US? What to know about mpox in Tennessee - Tennessean