Expert says mpox ‘might be about to trigger subsequent pandemic’ in chilling warning
We must not be complacent about new viruses, an expert has warned, as mpox comes to the UK.
To avoid another global pandemic, we need to consider lessons learnt from past pandemics and stop emergent bugs, like mpox, in their tracks, according to author and science journalist Debora MacKenzie, before they become a global crisis.
Writing for the Guardian, the author of Stopping the Next Pandemic: How Covid-19 Can Help Us Save Humanity, the public health boffin warned that an emergent strain of mpox “could be about to cause a pandemic”.
READ MORE: Young child in UK hospital after contracting monkeypox as outbreak continues
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She highlighted the fact that an earlier strain of the virus infected nearly 100,000 people in 116 countries two years ago, killing 208 of them. We now find ourselves in a similar position, tracking a new strain of mpox pop up first in Africa, then Sweden and Europe, and even the UK.
She said: “Now the question is whether clade Ib [the new variant] might do the same – and, if it does, whether it will be worse.”
She went on: “Frustratingly, though, we could have attacked mpox in Africa before it came to this.”
MacKenzie reasons that if smallpox vaccinations were accessible in African nations, we could have avoided the current public health emergency, declared by the World Health Organization (WHO), and the threat of how the virus might evolve and adapt to survive.
As mpox continues to spread across the UK, and the world, we take a look at the virus that has sparked global alarm.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
What’s the difference between mpox and Monkey pox?
Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus, according to WHO.
The name change was brought on to address concerns and stigma associated with the disease, the NHS states.
As a virus and just like Covid, mpox has multiple strains, or clades, as MacKenzie points out. Clade I is the original variant found in central Africa while clade II in west Africa has been known about since the 70s. The emergent variant currently causing alarm is clade IB.
(Image: Getty Images/Science Photo Library RF)
How easy is it to catch?
You can catch mpox through physical contact with someone who is infectious or coming into contact contaminated materials, such as bedding or clothing. Humans can contract the virus through infected animals which includes eating infected meat.
Mpox doesn’t spread between people easily, unless they are in close contact with each other. The virus is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, including oral and penetrative sex and kissing, and by breathing it in, according to Government guidance.
(Image: Getty Images)
Can you die from mpox?
Severe cases of mpox can send people to hospital, or be fatal. However, this is rare. As clade Ib is a new variant, data is slim, however MacKenzie believes it is less lethal than clade I, killing only about 0.6%. WHO says 3.6% of mpox clade I case were fatal in 2024.
Being younger, having prolonged exposure to the virus, having poor overall health and developing conditions are all risk factors for severe cases of monkeypox.
Generally, mpox symptoms take around 2 to 4 weeks to clear and are usually mild for most people. However, infected people usually need to stay in a specialist hospital to prevent the disease from being passed on to others.
(Image: TNS)
Can monkeys get mpox?
Yes they can. They can even suffer similar symptoms to humans. Small mammals can carry the virus without symptoms however, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Can you be vaccinated and what’s the treatment?
There is no specific vaccine for mpox, however the smallpox vaccine should offer a good level of protection against the virus, says the NHS. The NHS is offering smallpox vaccinations to people who likely to be exposed to mpox.
Most mpox cases will go away on their own and be treated at home. Mild symptoms can be managed through pain control and supportive care.
Symptoms usually last between two and four weeks, according to WHO. As people are contagious until the rash is healed, it’s important they stay at home until the rash has cleared up.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
What are the symptoms?
According to the NHS website, symptoms start to show between five and 21 days after infection.
Symptoms include a high temperature, a headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen glands, shivering (chills) and exhaustion.
One major indication is a rash which tends to appear within one to five days following the first symptoms. It usually starts off on the face and then moves on to other parts of the body.
It can sometimes be mistaken for chickenpox and starts as raised spots before transforming into grim small blisters which are filled with fluid.
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