The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning to doctors to be on the lookout for signs of a more severe strain of mpox that is spreading rapidly in various parts of Africa. This alert from the CDC came shortly after a tweet from World Health Organization’s Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesu, stating that a group of advisers will be convened to determine if the mpox outbreak should be declared an international public health emergency. The committee will be meeting soon, according to Tedros.
The current strain of mpox, known as clade 1, has so far only been reported in central and eastern Africa, as mentioned in the CDC alert. However, due to the potential for further spread, the agency is advising healthcare providers in the U.S. to consider mpox in patients who have recently traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo or neighboring countries such as Angola, Burundi, and others, and are showing symptoms of the disease.
Mpox, previously referred to as monkeypox, is a virus that can cause symptoms like fevers, headaches, muscle aches, and painful boils on the skin. It is transmitted through close skin-to-skin contact between individuals and can be fatal. The latest strain of mpox is distinct from the one that was prevalent globally in 2022, primarily affecting men who have sex with men. The number of cases related to that strain has significantly decreased in the U.S.
The CDC alert also mentioned that outbreaks in certain provinces in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been linked to sexual contact. In other parts of the country, individuals have contracted the virus through interactions with infected animals, household transmission, or patient care. A significant portion of reported cases involves children under the age of 15.
According to the World Health Organization, most cases in endemic provinces are still among children under 15, with infants and young children under five being at the highest risk of severe illness and death. The severity of clade 1 mpox is a cause for concern, as nearly 4% of cases have been fatal, compared to less than 1% for the 2022 subtype, clade 2.
Fortunately, the available mpox vaccine manufactured by Jynneos is effective against both clade 1 and clade 2 strains of the virus, as stated by the CDC. It is crucial for healthcare providers to remain vigilant and consider the possibility of mpox in patients who may have been exposed to the virus in affected regions. Stay informed and take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of this potentially deadly disease.