Mitigating the Mpox Threat: Global Preparedness and Vigilance Key to Preventing a Broader Crisis

Central and West Africa are once again grappling with an outbreak of Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a second public health emergency of international concern. Mpox is a zoonotic disease caused by a virus related to smallpox. While it predominantly affects animals like monkeys and rodents in Central and West Africa, it can also infect humans, leading to outbreaks due to its contagious nature.

There are two primary clades of the Mpox virus: Clade I and Clade II. Clade I is associated with more severe symptoms and a higher mortality rate, with recent outbreaks of Clade I resulting in a fatality rate of up to 10%. The ongoing outbreak is primarily driven by Clade Ib, a subtype of Clade I, whereas the global outbreak two years ago was caused by Clade II. As the world watches closely, the unfolding crisis underscores the urgent need for robust global health measures to curb the relentless spread of this formidable virus before it crosses even more borders.