MPOX: A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY OF INTERNATIONAL CONCERN.

MPOX.

Photo credit: thisdaylive.com

Health is one of the broad areas we need to keep our eyes on every day. We may be fatigued with the news of health issues all the time; we turn on our radio or television, read newspapers, visit social media, and many others. But the truth of the matter is that we cannot run away from reality as the disease-causing organisms keep changing to bring about diseases. Therefore, we must face and be interested in keeping ourselves updated to inform our health decisions. I come to you here to talk about MPOX, also called Monkey Pox disease. This has become necessary due to the upsurge of cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), making the African Centre for Disease and Prevention (CDC) declare this disease as a Public Health Emergency in Africa on the 13th of August, 2024. Following also is a declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the 14th of August, 2024 as a Public Health Emergency of International concern.

What’s it, this MPOX…………………….

Monkey Pox, also known as MPOX is a viral zoonotic disease (that is a disease that spreads between people and animals) caused by the monkeypox virus ( clade I and clade II ). This disease was first known when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease happened in the colonies of Monkeys kept for research in 1958 in Denmark. The first case of MPOX was discovered in 1970 in DR Congo when a nine-month-old boy was reported to have the disease. This disease is similar to smallpox but less severe. However, in some situations, it can be a fatal disease. MPOX is common in the tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa. In the past, countries such as Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, DR Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Liberia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sudan, La Cote D’ lvoire, Gabon, Sierra Leone, and South Africa have recorded cases of MPOX disease. Recently, the African CDC reported cases of MPOX in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, DR Congo, and others. However, DR. Congo had the most reported cases (96%) according to the African CDC. In WHO’s 2024 report on the MPOX outbreak in DR Congo as of 26th of May, 7851 cases were reported, with 384 deaths in a case fatality rate (CFR) of 4.9%. Also, it was indicated in this report that these cases were reported across 22 out of the 26 provinces in DR. Congo, representing 85%. This tells us how serious the public health situation has been in DR. Congo, which has led to a Public Health Emergency of International concern. MPOX is common among the 0-17 year old group.

Reservoir Host……...…………………

African Rope Squirrel ( also called Congo Rope Squirrel, with botanical name as Funisciurus congiscus) is believed to be a reservoir host for MPOX virus in endemic regions in Africa. This rodent is mostly found in Angola, DR Congo, and Namibia, and stays in a moist savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and rocky areas.

How the MPOX spread……….……….

The incubation period ( that is the period of exposure to the disease and the start of the disease) is 2-21 days. MPOX can spread through direct contact with an infected person such as through skin-to-skin contact or face-to-face contact such as talking or breathing closely to one another which can produce infectious respiratory particles. The direct contact can also be sexual where the disease is transmitted through sex with an infected person, being sexual intercourse or oral sex as well as kissing with an infected person.  Also, there can be animal-to-human spread during activities such as hunting, cooking, trapping, skinning, playing with carcasses or eating animals infected with the monkey pox virus.  However, MPOX can spread through indirect contact such as materials infected with the virus like clothing, bedding, and towels. Similarly, infected pregnant women can pass the MPOX to the unborn child.

What to look for when suspecting MPOX or in an infected person with MPOX.

There is a fever,  headaches, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, and back pain. Then a day to three days of infection, the painful rashes develop, and last 2-4 weeks.

Clinical Characteristics of MPOX Rashes.

1. The rashes are painful lesions that may be one or a few or hundreds on the skin.
2. These lesions can appear anywhere on the body such as on the palms or hands, and soles of the feet, face, mouth, and throat, groin, and genital areas, and anus.
3. Others may have painful swelling in their rectum called proctitis.

It’s important to note that people with MPOX can transmit the disease to others until the sores have healed, and a new layer of skin has formed. Also, some infected individuals are asymptomatic, meaning that they show no symptoms of the MPOX but are carriers of the MPOX virus who can spread the disease unknowingly.

People at Risk of MPOX Disease

Children, Pregnant people, People with weak immune systems, Healthcare workers, People with multiple sex partners, Same sex partners, Sex workers, People in the same household or close, settings such as tattoo parlours, and Community.

Can MPOX Bring About Any Complications?

Yes, it can bring about complications such as Painful and difficult peeing ( Oliguria and dysuria), Painful and difficult swallowing (Odynophagia and Dysphagia), serious skin damage, pneumonia, eye infections leading to blindness, malnutrition or dehydration, infections of the blood, infections of the brain (encephalitis), infections of the heart (myocarditis), and infections of the urinary urethra (urethritis).

What One Must Not Do When Infected With MPOX.

1. Do not pop blisters or scratch sores because it can slow healing, spread the rashes to other parts of the body, and cause sores to become infected.
2. Do not shave areas with sores until scabs have healed, and you have a new skin underneath because it can spread the rash to other parts of the body.

How to Prevent and Control MPOX Infections.

1. Hand washing under running with soap.
2. Avoid contact with wild or domestic animals.
3. Self-isolate if you’re infected; stay at home until all scabs fall off and a new layer of skin forms.
4. Infected persons should wear a face mask especially those with respiratory symptoms such as cough, sore throat, etc.
5. Infected persons are managed with antiviral medications such as Tecovirimat at the hospital. 
6. Cover skin lesions with long sleeves, trousers or long dresses.
7. Clean all contaminated surfaces with an antiseptic solution.
8. One can take MPOX vaccines if at risk. Two doses give the best protection. Wait till 4 weeks after taking the first dose before taking the second dose. After two weeks of taking the second dose, you will get the maximum protection.

Sources;

https://www.who.int>coronavirusemulti-countryoutbreakofmpox-WHO

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mpox

https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2024-DON522

https://animalia.bio/congo-rope-squirrel

http://www.bbc.com/news/article/coe84;w9qdjo

Mpox (Monkeypox)

https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/mpox/clinicians/treatment.html

https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/mpox/vaccines/index.html