Mpox Declared a Global Health Emergency

What is Mpox:

Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a viral infection caused by a DNA virus from the Poxviridae family. Although first identified in monkeys in 1958, the virus also affects humans. Recent outbreaks have highlighted the need for better prevention and control measures, especially given the virus's evolving nature and its impact on global health.

Key points :

1. Transmission:
   1. Primary Sources: The virus is mainly transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected animals, particularly rodents and primates, or through contaminated objects.
2. Symptoms:
   1. Initial Symptoms: Fever, headache, muscle aches.
   2. Rash Development: The rash progresses through several stages, starting from macules (flat spots), to papules (raised bumps), to vesicles (fluid-filled blisters), and eventually pustules (pus-filled lesions).
3. Vaccination:
   1. Current Status: A vaccine for Mpox exists but is limited in availability and effectiveness.
   2. Need for Improvement: There is an ongoing need for better vaccines and enhanced prevention strategies.
4. Genomic Features:
   1. Clades and Lineages: Mpox genomes are categorized into clades I and II, with clade I associated with higher mortality rates.
   2. Recent Outbreak: The 2022 outbreak featured a new lineage, clade IIb, which is more adapted for human-to-human transmission.
   3. Genomic Analysis: Research has identified a distinct lineage of clade I associated with human-to-human transmission, indicating a recent zoonotic spillover event.
   4. Evolutionary Adaptations: Mpox viruses can undergo genomic accordion, a phenomenon involving rhythmic expansions and contractions of the virus’s genome, driven by gene duplication or deletion.

Note:

1. Genomic Accordion: This term describes the fluctuations in the size of a virus's genome observed in poxviruses like Mpox, influenced by genetic changes that affect the virus's adaptability to hosts and environments.