A senior official from the World Health Organization emphatically stated, “Mpox is not the next COVID.” Nevertheless, recent cases detected outside of Africa, especially a new strain believed to be more easily transmissible, are heightening concerns following the COVID-19 pandemic that led to nearly 15 million deaths globally.

On Wednesday, Thailand reported its first case of mpox, though it’s uncertain if this is connected to the new clade Ib variant responsible for an escalating outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This strain has already been identified in at least 12 African nations and one European country. This year alone, over 17,000 cases and 517 fatalities have been documented across 13 African nations, with more than 95% of those instances occurring in the Congo.

Last week, Sweden became the first non-African country to confirm an infection involving the Ib strain, linked to a traveler who returned from Africa. The day before, the WHO declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern.

While Hans Kluge, the WHO’s regional director for Europe, dismissed the idea that mpox could mimic COVID’s catastrophic impact, he cautioned, “We are able and must work together to combat mpox across regions and continents.”

Understanding Mpox: Transmission and Symptoms

Previously referred to as monkeypox due to its initial discovery in monkeys in 1958, mpox is a virus from the same family as smallpox. It can be transmitted from animals to humans as well as between humans, usually via bodily fluids, close physical contact, or interaction with contaminated surfaces.

Mpox is categorized into two strains: clade I and clade II. The latter generally results in less severe illness and has a lower mortality rate. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mpox often appears as a rash affecting the hands, feet, chest, face, mouth, and genital area, where the lesions may be painful or itchy.

Other symptoms are flu-like and may include sore throat, cough, nasal congestion, fever, chills, muscle aches, and fatigue.

The CDC notes that during the previous U.S. outbreak involving the clade II strain in 2022, and in the ongoing, although much fewer, cases now, the virus has predominantly spread through sexual and intimate contact, with gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men being at the highest risk for mpox infection.

Evaluating the Risk of Mpox in the U.S.

In 2022, mpox was introduced to the U.S. during a widespread outbreak, leading to 32,000 confirmed infections and 58 deaths domestically. All reported cases were associated with the less contagious clade II type. The CDC reported that no clade I cases have been identified in the U.S., and the risk of this variant entering the country remains low.

However, Dr. Kyle Enfield, a pulmonary disease specialist at the University of Virginia, points out that the potential for international travel makes it likely that the more dangerous strain of the virus may eventually reach the U.S. shores. He provided some reassurance for those concerned about the threat of mpox.

“Diseases like mpox require close skin-to-skin or human contact for transmission, unlike respiratory illnesses, meaning the spread is expected to be slower compared to diseases like influenza or COVID, which are more adept at rapid human-to-human transmission,” Enfield explained.

Available Treatments and Vaccines

According to the CDC, mpox infections typically last between two to four weeks, often resolving without medical intervention. While there is no specific antiviral treatment for mpox, the CDC advises that symptoms can be alleviated with over-the-counter medications and prescribed mouthwashes. Patients are strongly recommended not to touch or scratch the rash.

The CDC advocates for a two-dose mpox vaccine for at-risk individuals in the U.S. and offers a vaccine locator by ZIP code on its website. An agency study found that the authorized JYNNEOS vaccine, given in two doses four weeks apart, is highly effective in preventing mpox and also reduces the severity of symptoms for those who become infected.

Contributing: Reuters