Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – Mpox is an infectious disease which caused by a virus in the same family as smallpox but is usually much less harmful.
It was originally transmitted from animals to humans but now also passes between humans, reports BBC.
Initial symptoms include fever, headaches, swellings, back pain and aching muscles.
Once the fever breaks, a rash can develop. It often begins on the face before spreading to other parts of the body, most commonly the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
The rash, which can be extremely itchy or painful, changes and goes through different stages before finally forming a scab, which later falls off. It can cause scarring.
The infection can clear up on its own and lasts between 14 and 21 days.
But in some cases it is fatal, particularly for vulnerable groups including small children.
Serious cases can see lesions attack the whole of the body, especially the mouth, eyes and genitals.
Which Countries Is Mpox Spreading In?
Mpox is most common in remote villages in the tropical rainforests of West and Central Africa, in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), where it has been seen for many years.
In these regions, there are thousands of infections and hundreds of deaths from the disease annually, with children under 15 worst affected, BBC reports.
There are currently a number of different outbreaks happening simultaneously - mainly in the DRC and neighbouring countries.
The disease has recently been seen in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya, where it is not normally endemic.
There are broadly two main types of mpox - Clade 1, which is often more serious, and Clade 2.
The Clade 1 virus - that has for decades caused sporadic outbreaks in DRC - is spreading.
Some forms of Clade 1 seem to be affecting children more than adults.
There is also real concern because many people infected in the last year have had a relatively new and more severe type of mpox known as Clade 1b.
Experts say there is a lot to learn about the Clade 1b but it may be spreading more easily, causing more serious disease.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there were more than 14,500 mpox infections and over 450 deaths from mpox between the start of 2024 and the end of July. That is a 160% increase in infections and a 19% increase in deaths compared with the same period in 2023.
A previous mpox public health emergency, declared in 2022, was caused by the relatively mild Clade 2.
It spread to nearly 100 countries which do not normally see the virus, including some in Europe and Asia, but was brought under control by vaccinating vulnerable groups.
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