Syllabus:

GS-2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education and Human Resources. 

Context: 

Recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that the spread of mpox (monkeypox) in Africa no longer represents a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

More on the News

• According to the WHO, mpox was still a public health concern across the world, but it had decided to downgrade the status on advice from its Emergency Committee based on sustained declines in cases and deaths in Congo, and in other affected countries, including Burundi, Sierra Leone, and Uganda.
• According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, mpox remains a public health emergency in Africa due to fresh surges in several countries.

Monkeypox 

• Mpox (previously known as monkeypox) is a rare zoonotic disease (spreading from animals to humans) caused by the mpox virus (MPXV).
• It is a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the species of genus Orthopoxvirus.
• There are two distinct clades of the virus namely clade I and clade II and in 2022–2023 a global outbreak of mpox was caused by the clade IIb strain. 
• It is a self-limiting disease, but it can lead to death, especially among children, pregnant women and those with weak immune systems such as people living with HIV.
• The natural reservoir of the virus is unknown, but various small mammals such as squirrels and monkeys are susceptible.

Transmission of Mpox 

• Mpox mainly spreads through close contact with an infected person or animal, including direct contact with skin lesions, bodily fluids, or contaminated objects such as bedding.
• During pregnancy, the virus may be passed to the fetus, or to the newborn during or after birth.
• In recent outbreaks, sexual transmission has become a significant mode of spread, particularly among men who have sex with men. 

Clades of Mpox 

• Clade 1: With subclades Ia and Ib

• It is mainly found in Central Africa, especially the Democratic Republic of Congo, and is more severe, with intense rashes, larger lesions, and serious complications like pneumonia and encephalitis. 
• It spreads more easily through close contact and respiratory droplets, with a fatality rate up to 10%. 

• Clade 2: With subclades IIa and IIb

• It is mainly found in West Africa (especially Nigeria), causes milder symptoms with fewer complications and less severe lesions. 
• It has lower human-to-human transmission and a fatality rate below 1%, making it significantly less deadly than Clade 1.

Symptoms of Mpox

• Mpox usually causes rashes that develop into blisters filled with liquid, which can be itchy or painful. 
• Other Symptoms: Fever, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.
• Infectious Period: Infectious people can pass the disease on to others until all sores have healed and a new layer of skin has formed.
• Onset & Duration: Symptoms start 1–21 days after exposure, lasting 2–4 weeks.

Treatment for Mpox

• Currently, there is no specific treatment for mpox. The WHO recommends supportive care, including pain or fever medication when needed, as symptoms usually resolve on their own. 

• People suffering from mpox need to stay hydrated, eat well, avoid scratching, and cover lesions if around others.

• Tecovirimat, an antiviral initially developed for smallpox, was approved for mpox treatment in January 2022, but its use is limited to clinical trials or special cases.

• An mpox vaccine (JYNNEOS and ACAM2000) can help prevent infection (pre-exposure prophylaxis). It is recommended for people at high-risk of getting mpox, especially during an outbreak.

• Individuals with mpox should continue taking their antiretroviral therapy (ART). 

Sources:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/5/mpox-no-longer-international-health-emergency-but-remains-concern-in-africa https://ddnews.gov.in/en/who-says-mpox-no-longer-a-global-public-health-emergency/#:~:text=The%20World%20Health%20Organisation%20(WHO,mpox%2C%20Xinhua%20news%20agency%20reported https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/mpox-no-longer-an-emergency-concerns-remain-health-body-says-2025-09-05/