How the Mpox Response Has Learned from History
October 23, 2024
The Ivan Toms Center in Cape Town exemplifies the intersection of mpox and HIV health crises. While mpox affects all populations, its impact is particularly significant among men who have sex with men, with HIV co-infection emerging as a critical concern. Research shows HIV-positive individuals account for 40% of mpox cases, with more severe outcomes in those with advanced HIV. The community's experience with the HIV/AIDS crisis has created established networks between healthcare providers and affected populations, potentially aiding in the current mpox response. This connection could be key to controlling the outbreak.
At Cape Town's Ivan Toms Center for Health, a clinic serving men who have sex with men since 2009, the convergence of mpox and HIV presents both challenges and opportunities for public health response. This intersection highlights how historical experiences with one health crisis can inform responses to another.
Key Aspects of the Crisis:
1. Historical Context:
- Mpox first identified in humans in the 1970s
- WHO declared it a global emergency twice in two years
- 90% of 2022 cases among gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men
2. HIV Connection:
- 40% of mpox cases occur in HIV-positive individuals
- Advanced HIV correlates with worse mpox outcomes
- Relationship between diseases still under investigation
- Potential impact of HIV treatment on mpox control
3. Community Response:
- Post-COVID awareness of disease transmission
- Increased public understanding of protection measures
- Strong existing networks between healthcare providers and affected communities
- Lessons learned from HIV/AIDS crisis inform current response
4. Research Findings:
- First sexual transmission documented in Nigeria in 2017
- Comorbidity challenges particularly significant in Africa
- Questions remain about HIV's role in mpox susceptibility and severity
5. Future Implications:
- Effective HIV treatment could be key to controlling mpox
- Community experience with HIV/AIDS benefits current response
- Need for continued research into disease interaction
- Importance of comprehensive healthcare approach
The situation at Ivan Toms Center, named after an anti-Apartheid and gay rights activist, symbolizes how past health crises can inform current responses. The intersection of mpox and HIV demonstrates the importance of understanding disease interactions and leveraging existing community healthcare networks for effective public health responses.