Forbes StaffMpox was recently declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization.
Since the last few days, Mpox, also known as Monkey Pox, has been garnering headlines due to its outbreak in Africa. It was then reported that Sweden recorded its first case, and now it is said that it has spread across other continents. Experts like Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman of the National Indian Medical Association Covid task force, have now cautioned that the new clade of Mpox is expected to have a greater spread, at least to immediate family contacts.
Dr. Jayadevan highlights the severity of Mpox.
Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan has cautioned about the severity of the new clade 1b strain of Mpox, which he says is expected to be more severe. It is rapidly spreading across Africa and will not follow the mild and self-limited trajectory of the 2022 outbreak, which lasted for only 10 months. He said, “Greater spread is expected, at least to immediate family contacts.”
Cases across other continents.
Dr. Jayadevan said, “Unsurprisingly, cases have already been detected on other continents, with the first being in Sweden, linked to travel to Africa.” He further said that the 2022 outbreak was caused by a milder clade 2 strain of Mpox, which had lower mortality and transmission potential. Also, it was largely confined to the MSM (men who have sex with men) community. However, he also noted, “As a result, even though it reached India in 2022 via expatriates from the Middle East and individuals based in Africa, it did not spread further.” He points out that the new strain is like an all-new Mpox virus.
Other experts, such as Dr. Madhukar Pai, inaugural chair of the Department of Global and Public Health at McGill University, Canada, and many others, took to X and called for urgent authentic global solidarity, equity, and support for African countries to alleviate Mpox outbreaks.
