Is the mpox outbreak abroad a threat to the U.S.?
September 28, 2024
A deadly strain of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is causing concern as it spreads beyond its endemic region in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The outbreak has reached neighboring African countries and cases have been reported in Sweden, Thailand, and India. This subtype, clade Ib, is particularly affecting children in the DRC, with over 8,000 infected and hundreds dead. The WHO has declared it a public health emergency of international concern. Experts warn of a potential global spread, reminiscent of the 2022 outbreak that affected over 100,000 people worldwide. The virus spreads through various means, posing a significant risk to vulnerable populations.
A more lethal strain of mpox, previously called monkeypox, is sparking international alarm as it expands beyond its traditional boundaries in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The virus has crossed borders, reaching Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda, and even Sweden, Thailand, and India, signaling a potential global health crisis.
The current outbreak, caused by the clade Ib subtype of mpox, has shown a disturbing trend in the DRC, disproportionately affecting children. UNICEF reports that 56% of cases in the country involve children under 15, with over 8,000 infections and hundreds of fatalities recorded by mid-August.
Mpox transmission occurs through various routes, including shared linens, contact with infected sores, and inhalation of respiratory droplets from infected individuals. Children, pregnant individuals, those with HIV, and the immunocompromised face the highest risk.
Jean Nachega, an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health and mpox expert, warns of the global threat: "We saw it before, and there's no reason not to see it again." This concern led WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to declare the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on August 14.
The spreading strain, clade Ib, is part of the smallpox family of viruses. It differs from the clade IIb variant that caused the 2022 global outbreak, which infected over 100,000 people across 122 countries and resulted in 58 deaths in the U.S. alone.
As health authorities monitor the situation, the global community faces the challenge of containing this potentially more dangerous mpox variant. The outbreak serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threats posed by emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, underscoring the need for robust global health surveillance and response systems.