A new and dangerous virus is spreading rapidly across the world. Known as Mpox, this virus has already reached over 116 countries, including India. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning that if swift action is not taken, Mpox could become the next global pandemic.
On August 14, 2024, Dr. Tedros, the Director-General of WHO, announced that Mpox, once limited to a single country in Africa, is now a global threat. The virus, which first appeared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has now spread to 12 other African nations, as well as countries like Sweden, Saudi Arabia, and the Philippines.
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The Rise of a More Dangerous Variant
Mpox is not a new virus. A weaker version of it attempted to spread in 2022 but was largely contained. However, a new, more powerful strain has emerged, which is much more virulent and deadly. This new variant has proven to be seven times more lethal than COVID-19.
In response, India’s government is on high alert. The Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, PK Mishra, has called an urgent meeting and has designated three major hospitals in Delhi—Rama Manohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, and Lady Hardinge Hospital—as key facilities for quarantining and treating Mpox patients. Other state medical facilities have also been warned to prepare for a potential outbreak.
The Virus’s Origins and Spread
The Mpox virus was first discovered in 1958 by Danish scientists who were experimenting with polio treatments on monkeys imported from Singapore. One of the monkeys showed symptoms like fever, muscle pain, and skin lesions, leading to the discovery of this strange pox virus, which was named Mpox.
The first human case was recorded in a nine-year-old boy from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, whose close contact with infected monkeys led to the virus adapting and becoming deadly to humans. The virus has since divided into two main strains: Clade-1, found primarily in the Congo, and Clade-2, which has spread across Western Africa and beyond.
A Growing Threat to India
India has already seen cases of the less severe Clade-2 strain. In one incident, a man from Kerala, who was infected with Clade-2 in the UAE, returned to India, leading to 25 more infections and one death. The spread of the more dangerous Clade-1 strain, however, poses a far greater threat. With thousands of people traveling between Africa and India each year, the risk of the virus entering the country is significant.
The Mpox virus can survive on surfaces for up to 15 hours, meaning that even public places like trains and buses could become breeding grounds for the virus. Given the high population density in cities like Mumbai, where millions use public transport daily, the potential for a widespread outbreak is alarming.
Symptoms and Prevention
Mpox has a three-stage infection process:
- Incubation Period: The virus enters the body and begins to multiply, typically lasting 1-2 weeks without any visible symptoms.
- Prodrome Period: Mild symptoms like fever, muscle pain, and swollen lymph nodes appear, signaling the onset of the disease.
- Rashing Stage: The virus attacks the skin, causing painful lesions that can spread the virus to others.
WHO advises maintaining strict personal hygiene, regularly sanitizing surroundings, and avoiding contact with stray animals. Those infected should isolate themselves immediately to prevent further spread.
Vaccination Efforts
A vaccine, MVA-BN, is available, but supplies are limited. The U.S. has delivered only 1.25 million doses globally, keeping the majority for its own use. Meanwhile, the European Commission and Health Emergency Preparedness Response Authority (HEPRA) have donated 215,000 doses to Africa. The global community, particularly the WHO and the U.S., is urged to ramp up vaccine distribution to prevent a catastrophic outbreak.
The world stands on the brink of another potential pandemic. With swift action and global cooperation, there is hope that the spread of Mpox can be contained before it reaches the devastating scale of COVID-19.
