Mpox Virus Outbreak: A Global Health Emergency

Verified By Dr. Prabhat Kumar | 16-Aug-2024

The outbreak of the previously known as monkey pox virus has been warned to become a global health emergency by World Health Organization (WHO) putting another public health crisis worldwide. While the initial outbreak region is focused in Central and West African states, it has now made its way to several nations which have sparked fear of an upcoming or during pandemic.

Understanding the Mpox Virus

The Mpox virus belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus, together with variola, an agent of smallpox. It was initially identified in 1958 as a pathogen that caused an epidemic among research colonies of macaque monkeys and, hence, acquired the name "monkey pox." The exact animal reservoir of the virus is unknown, although some evidence formerly pointed to African rodents as natural hosts for the virus.

Mpox may be transmitted from person to person through close contacts, directly touching the skin of an individual infected with Mpox virus through activities like direct contact, kissing, or touching objects contaminated with the virus, like shared bedding or towels and sharp objects. Is also may be spread by respiratory droplets during far-ahead face-to-face contact.

Symptoms of Mpox

Mpox is almost identical to the symptoms of smallpox but generally milder in form. The typical symptom is an appearance of a rash that goes through several stages of evolution before it heals. It usually starts on the face and spreads to other parts of the body, such as the hands and feet.

Other symptoms of Mpox include the following:

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Backache
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Chills
• Exhaustion

The incubation period for Mpox, the time from when an individual is exposed to the virus to when symptoms first appear, is 5-21 days.

Global Outbreak and Response

The current outbreak of Mpox is being caused by a new clade which they named Clade II. The strain has spread quickly throughout Central and Western Africa, with most cases reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

By August 2024, the Mpox virus had also spread to at least 11 other African countries like Kenya, Rwanda Burundi and Uganda. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared it as the global health emergency, that this disease may infect in another countries.

WHO calls for global action to contain the virus. This shall include:

• Strengthened surveillance and contact tracing
• Increase access to testing and treatment
• Accelerating research and development of vaccines and therapeutics
• Stigma and misinformation: Engaging with communities

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also declared the Mpox outbreaks a public health emergency, calling on governments to coordinate responses and increase the flow of medical supplies and aid into affected areas.

Is India at risk and what is the current status?

Though the Mpox virus, earlier referred to as monkey pox, is declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization, India faces a low risk of outbreak at present. The last case reported in India was back in March 2024. Total cases registered in the country since the outbreak began in 2022 amount to just about 30 confirmed ones. Health officials said there was no cause for immediate alarm and stressed that the risk of any huge surge in infections remained very low.

Current Status of Mpox in India

As of August 2024, India has not recorded any new cases of Mpox since March. Health ministry officials have been quick to monitor the situation, and according to officials, it has been found that the current assessment shows a low probability for the disease to break on a large scale. This analysis has been made keeping in consideration the few cases reports and the robust surveillance in the country. With the global surge in Mpox cases, especially in Europe and Africa, the Indian government has increased its alert levels. The health ministry has issued directions to airports, seaports, and border authorities to keep a watch for incoming travelers with symptoms of Mpox. This would enhance surveillance, allowing for early detection and prompt containment of any suspected cases.    

Government Measures and Preparedness

To that effect, the Indian government puts in place various precautionary measures with regard to preparedness for an outbreak. Notable among these are:

• Designated Hospitals: The Ministry of Health has selected three central government-run hospitals in New Delhi—Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, and Lady Hardinge Medical College—as nodal centers for isolating Mpox patients for treatment. This would, in turn, decentralize the process so that immediate medical care could be made available throughout the country.


• Testing Facilities: 32 laboratories in the country have been recognized for Mpox virus testing and strengthened. This means suspected cases can be diagnosed within a short period to facilitate timely intervention.


• Advisory to entry points: The Ministry of Health will issue advisories to international entry points on manning suspected Mpox cases and guide them in line with the laid-down protocols for isolation and treatment.


• Public Awareness Campaigns: The government is also involved in generating awareness among people about the symptoms and modes of transmission of Mpox. This helps the masses to identify the symptoms of infection and reach out to health authorities for medical help if required.

Challenges and Concerns

It risks propagating worldwide. One of the most significant challenges to containing an outbreak: this is what the Mpox outbreak is. The WHO says that there is a real danger that the current outbreak in Africa could spill over to other continents if global action is not taken.

Another concern is that it could mutate into a more transmissible or serious virus. Although the virus, Mpox, has an unusually stable genome compared to other viruses, it can still mutate.

Additionally, there are a great many concerns over vaccine and treatment supply and access. WHO asked drug manufacturers to put forward their vaccines against Mpox for emergency use, even though those vaccines have not had formal approval. It is possible that there will be limitations to the supply of vaccines and treatments, especially in the low-income countries.

Final Thoughts

A Mpox virus outbreak is a devastating global health emergency that requires response to the human pandemic in an organized, holistic manner. Although the virus is mild compared with smallpox, MORV can cause severe illness and death. But the outbreak remains capable of decimating local economies and creating social upheaval, particularly in affected countries.

Halting this outbreak will require the concerted efforts of all governments, international organizations and communities on a host of public health actions to contain its spread; increase access for testing and treatment: addressing stigma and misinformation. Control of this outbreak of the Mpox virus to prevent a pandemic is possible if the effort is concerted.